If you cut your tooth in half, you would see a lot more than the shiny white outer layer – you’d see a layer of dentin underneath the outer layer of enamel, and a chamber that runs from root tip to root tip. Inside of this chamber lies the tooth’s nerve, or pulp. Each chamber that runs through a root tip is called a root canal. Root canal therapy is a treatment that takes care of infected tooth nerves.
If a cavity is left unabated, it can reach through the enamel and dentin until it hits the chamber and leaves the tooth’s nerve exposed. Once exposed, the nerve can come into contact with all kinds of disease-causing agents, developing an infection. An infected tooth nerve will possibly cause chronic tooth pain, increase sensitivity to temperature, and eventually cause the formation of an abscess. The infection in your root canal can kill the tooth and lead to its extraction. If your tooth is infected, our best chance of saving it from extraction is root canal therapy. Dr. Vince Fava can perform root canal therapy treatment at Torbram Dental in Brampton, Ontario, reversing the damaging effects of infection and keeping your smile in one piece.
Root canal therapy involves cleaning out the infected tooth to stop the infection. Dr. Fava will clear away the decayed tooth enamel and dentin so as to reach the root canals. Then, he’ll remove infected nerve tissue, cleansing and detoxifying the chambers inside the tooth. A biologically inert substance is placed inside the canals where the nerve once was. Dr. Fava will place a crown over the tooth to cover the cavity and seal out any further debris.
You might shudder in fear at the thought of root canal therapy. After all, it’s often used in casual conversation as a way to express discomfort – “That sounds worse than a root canal!” But modern root canal therapy is surprisingly comfortable. With sedation dentistry offerings including nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and oral sedation, there’s no need to worry about a painful procedure. In fact, with oral sedation, you might not even remember your root canal therapy procedure at all!
Experiencing chronic tooth pain? Do you have a tooth that is suddenly more sensitive to hot or cold than usual? Contact Torbram Dental in Brampton, Ontario to schedule an appointment. Dr. Vince Fava can determine if root canal therapy is what you need. We serve families from Mississauga, Georgetown, Woodbridge, and other surrounding communities. Don’t lose a tooth – try root canal therapy for better oral health instead.