Root canal therapy bears the brunt of many jokes and groans. In truth, endodontics gets the patient out of discomfort quickly, and it may be the only way to save an infected or damaged tooth. At Cress Dental in Twin Falls, root canal treatment is nothing to fear.
At the center of each tooth is a mass of vascular and nerve tissue. Normally, this pulp is protected from bacterial invasion by the layer of enamel and underlying dentin structure. Untreated or hidden decay compromises those safeguards. Bacteria trigger tooth infection, irritating the nerve and building painful pressure in the pulp chamber.
The problem may develop gradually, with sensitivity to hold, cold, or sweet; tenderness when you bite down; or an unpleasant taste in the mouth. In the case of an abscessed tooth, pain is acute, and the mouth or face may be swollen. If infection reaches the root tip, it can spread to bone or cause serious systemic infection.
Need for root canal treatment may also be the result of trauma – a chip or crack that breeches enamel, or repeated dental work involving drilling that sensitizes the nerve.
Call Dr. Justin Cress at (208) 544-4848 when you need a root canal dentist in the Buhl, Kimberly, Jerome, or Hailey area to perform the procedure with precision and compassion.