Sunnybrook Dental - Sioux City, Iowa

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Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is indicated when the nerve a tooth is infected or in the process of dying due to decay or injury. Common symptoms that point to root canal therapy are extreme sensitivity to temperature, tenderness or pain to biting or pressure, swelling in the area of the tooth, chronic pain or a throbbing pain in the tooth. The nerve of the tooth lies within the pulp chamber, which is located in the center of the tooth and roots. When performing root canal therapy, the nerve of the tooth is removed from the center of the tooth and roots. The area is disinfected and a rubber base material, called gutta percha, is then sealed within the space where the nerve tissue occupied.		This prevents bacteria from re-entering the tooth causing infection. Once root canal therapy is completed, it is often recommended that the tooth be restored with a crown. The reason for this is that teeth become brittle when the nerve tissue is removed and are more susceptible to fracture. The crown helps to protect the tooth and strengthens the tooth, preventing fracture. When the nerve tissue in a tooth is infected or dying, the only alternative to root canal therapy is extraction of the tooth. The tooth could then be replaced with an implant, fixed partial denture or removable partial denture. However, these may eventually cost more and will never equal the chewing efficiency or stability of your natural teeth. .