Dr. Scott Parr |
| 200 Grayson Road Suite 100 = Virginia Beach VA = 23462 = 757 473-8482 |
| Virginia Beach, VA The Smile Center Cosmetic Dentistry | ||||
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Root Canal Therapy
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| = | Stop the toothache; |
| = | Prevent bacteria and pain from spreading into the jaw; and |
| = | Maintain the original tooth instead of replacing it with a denture or bridge. |
The root canal is actually a channel that runs from the root of the tooth, which connects to the bone, up to the top surface of the tooth. The canal contains blood vessels, nerves, and the complex cells that make up the living tissue inside the tooth. This lifeline inside the tooth is called the pulp.
When a tooth is decayed or cracked, bacteria can get to the pulp. The acid from the bacteria irritates the pulp and it becomes inflamed; it's the same process you watch when other parts of your body become infected. When the pulp tissue becomes inflamed, it's harder for blood to flow to the tissue, and the resulting pressure creates pain inside your tooth.
Copyright 2004 Internet Dental Alliance, Inc.
Many people flinch when
their dentists tell them they need root canal therapy. While dentists are
sympathetic to fears of pain, they also want patients to know that root
canal therapy has three purposes: