ENDODONTICS
Endodontics is the area of dentistry dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the tooth root, dental pulp, and surrounding tissue. Endodontic therapy (root canal) is a type of treatment that can save diseased or injured teeth. The alternative to endodontics is extraction.
There have been many recent advances in cleaning, shaping, and filling techniques. Endodontic treatment involves cleaning and sealing the inside of the tooth. In many cases, the tooth treatmen occurs without doing a root canal, and the inflammation symptoms will resolve.
Symptoms that might indicate the need for root canal therapy include:
- significant and constant pain, especially when you lie down
- significant sensitivity to hot or cold
- pain upon chewing on that tooth
- a darkening of the color of only one tooth
- the appearance of a pimple or fistula in the gum
