When tooth decay takes hold in your teeth, it will not stop until a dentist performs a treatment. Your enamel has no living cells, so it cannot regenerate on its own, leaving your tooth defenseless once a hole has been created. However, if the infection is caught in time, we can provide a filling that will fill the tooth. If the decay reaches your pulp (inner chamber of your tooth), then we may have to go a step further and perform a root canal treatment.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal therapy is designed to remove infection from the pulp of your teeth, which houses your tooth’s soft tissues, blood vessels, and nerves. If the treatment is not performed, we may have to remove your tooth completely. To prevent this from happening, we can treat the tooth by removing the infected (and likely necrotic) pulp tissues. if any of this material is left in your tooth, then we will probably have to re-treat your tooth, because the infection will not stop on its own. Once all of the infected material is removed, we can disinfect your tooth, and then fill it with gutta-percha to seal it. You also may require a crown to stabilize the tooth.
Why You May Need Root Canal Treatment
A cavity is not the only thing that can make you require root canal therapy. Other issues might require you to receive one, including:
- A cracked, fractured, or broken tooth
- Trauma to the tooth (may not be visible on the outside of your tooth)
- A failed restorative treatment in the same tooth
- Anything that leaves the internal tissues of your tooth vulnerable to bacterial infection
About Your Downey Dentists:
Dr. Hadis Reyhani, Dr. Ben Reyhani, and Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh, DDS, provide a wealth of combined experience, along with innovative technology and personalized care, to help improve our patients’ dental health so they can enjoy smiling again. To schedule a consultation, call Downey Family Cosmetic Dentistry today at (562) 472-2433.
