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Q: What is root canal therapy?
A: Root canal therapy is a procedure your dentist can use to save
a tooth that has a diseased or injured pulp. Decades ago, such
teeth would have been removed. The pulp is the soft tissue inside
the tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves. The pulp extends
from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the root in the bone
of the jaw. When the pulp gets injured or diseased and is not treated,
it dies. The most common causes for the problem are a cracked tooth
or a deep cavity. Either of these circumstances can let bacteria
get into the pulp, which can lead to infection.
In root canal therapy, your dentist, or an endodontist— a dentist who specializes
in root canals—makes an opening in the crown of the tooth, removes the
diseased pulp and may put medication into the pulp chamber and root canals. She
will cover the opening with a temporary filling or he may leave it open for a
few days to drain. Next she'll remove the temporary filling, clean out the inside
of the tooth and fill it. Finally, the tooth gets a new artificial crown. For
more information on the effectiveness of root canal therapy, talk with your dentist.
November 2, 2009
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