Root Canals

Previously, the solution to teeth with damaged roots or infection was extraction. Fortunately, these teeth can now often be saved by a root canal. When you have a toothache, it is just a powerful reminder that your teeth aren’t just hard pieces of enamel attached to the gums. They are actually intricately formed parts with layers of hard substances overlaying a delicate core. And, because teeth are not bones, they will not heal themselves. In the center of the tooth, lies a collection of nerves and blood vessels that provide nutrients and sensation to each tooth. Therefore, as long as the tooth stays healthy, you are rarely reminded of what a tooth actually is.

However, pain in your teeth invokes awareness to a problem area. Pain tells us that something is not right. It is the little bundle of nerves and vessels inside your tooth warning you that they are irritated, damaged, or under attack.

The longer you ignore a cavity, the deeper the cavity decays – which can, in time, decay to the inner nerves. When Dr. Viet Tran determines that the nerve won’t recover or infection is present, then root canal treatment may be suggested.

Modern anesthetics provide powerful numbing for gentle removal of the inflamed nerve inside the tooth. The nerve canal undergoes disinfection and careful shaping, and a sealer fills the internal space. A filling or crown over the tooth helps return the tooth to its original condition.