Conservative Treatment for Severe Decay

Root canal therapy (RCT), also known as endodontic treatment, describes the treatment of the inner structures of your tooth when they’ve become affected by decay. Unlike tooth fillings, which treat mild to moderate cavities by replacing infected dentin (the main structure of a tooth’s crown), root canal therapy treats more severe internal decay. The procedure involves carefully cleaning out the infection from your tooth’s pulp chamber, which holds its nerves, blood vessels, and other soft tissues. These tissues run from the pulp to your jawbone through the root canal that supports the tooth, and in severe cases of decay, the pulp and canals can become quickly infected.

How to Tell if You Need Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy becomes necessary since tooth fillings don’t suffice for severe, internal tooth decay. That’s because your tooth’s pulp is at the center of your tooth and is connected to the root. It’s also the storehouse of your tooth’s sensitive tissues and nerves, which means you may experience more intense levels of tooth discomfort, inflammation around the tooth, an abscess on your tooth root, and more. If your tooth is in especially severe discomfort, or if its previously placed filling has failed, then a comprehensive examination can help us determine if root canal treatment can save it.

Find Out if Root Canal Therapy Is Necessary

Tooth decay is often treated before it becomes a severe concern, but there are times when a tooth filling isn’t enough to address the problem. To find out if you need root canal therapy to save your tooth from severe decay, schedule a consultation by calling Newhall Dental Arts in Newhall, CA, today at (661) 259-7760.