Root Canal therapy, also called Endodontic Treatment
Root Canal Therapy alleviates pain and soreness by eliminating the nerve tissue (called pulp) located in the heart of the tooth and its root or roots (called the root canal). Root Canal Therapy requires drilling through the biting exterior of the tooth to expose the pulp.

The pulp is then removed with very fine metal files. Medications may be used to sterilize the core of the tooth to avoid the spread of infection

Injured Pulp
When the pulp is unhealthy or wounded and cannot repair itself, it dies and is the cause of dental pain. This could cause a Root Canal Infection and dental pain. The most frequent cause of pulp death is a cracked tooth or a deep cavity. Bacteria can attack your tooth through a weak filling, a cavity, or a crack. Your pulp becomes infected as bacteria reaches the pulp. Ultimately, the bacteria could destroy the pulp. This may lead to infection of the bone as the bacteria escapes through the root openings.

Pulp Removal
Root Canal Therapy requires drilling through the biting exterior of the tooth to expose the pulp. Medications may be used to sterilize the inside of the tooth to prevent infection from spreading. Root canal therapy is serious business, and all those who will need a root canal performed on their mouth should get Root Canal Therapy done as soon as possible.

Temporary Filling
After the pulp has been removed, a temporary filling is added into the crown cavity to cover the tooth between your dentist visits. If you have had an infection, your tooth may be left open for a few days for the infection to drain. In addition to the draining, you will also will be given medicine to help control infection that may have spread past the tooth.

Dental Crown
During the last stage of the root canal therapy, a dental crown made of ceramic or metal alloy will be placed and sealed onto the tooth. If an endodontist performs the root canal therapy, he or she will advise that you return to your Pittsburgh family dentist for this finishing step.


Why Root Canal Therapy ?
Root Canal Therapy is needed when a large filling became loose or parts of the tooth broke apart causing the decay of the tooth. When this occurs, your tooth is not as sturdy as it originally was and will require some additional support such as a dental crown or a dental crown and post. In addition, the crown will seal the tooth keeping bacteria out of this area. As always, we will consult the pros and con with you to help you decide what is best for your health.

Major Root Canal Pain
A main dental irritation that numerous people face is root canal pain, which for the most part is an extremely painful oral condition.

Untreated Root Canals
The pain is an indication of tooth decay and if it is not treated will result in rotten teeth. If left untreated, root canal pain caused by tooth decay can lead to a dead tooth. The pain in the root canal is a symptom of pulp infection of the tooth. There are two options for treatment; undergo root canal therapy or have the tooth extracted

Root Canal Pain
There are several causes for Root Canal Pain. Teeth can fail from tooth decay or deep dental fillings. Discomfort may vary from nothing to a constant throbbing. Regardless of the variety, the tooth will need to have a root canal immediately.

Symptoms for a Root Canal
If you have pain symptoms that last for a while, you cannot sleep, or there is some degree of swelling around your tooth, you will need to have a root canal.

Molar Root Canal
After root canal therapy has been performed on a molar, a crown should be placed on the molar as soon as possible. If the crown is not placed immediately after the root canal therapy has been performed, the tooth will dry out making it very brittle. Biting hard food can crack it.

Pain in Molars
If the encircled molar tissues become infected, pain will not only emanate from the molar but also around the tooth itself. The treatments for this problem will all depend on how bad the crack in the molar is. If the crack stretches down to the root, there is a good chance the tooth will need to be removed. If the crack does not extend itself down to the root, the tooth can be saved by extending the length of the crown and placing a crown cap on top the area.

Pain after a Root Canal
For root canals to be effective, your dentist must remove all of the decaying tissue. If the decaying tissue is not removed, you will eventually have an infection leading to a constant aching pain, and a hurting bite. Most root canal therapy patients have reported that the first couple of days subsequent of root canal therapy are that the tooth still feels tender. Time is the best way to eliminate all the pain, but there are also some other things that can be done to effectively minimize tooth sensitivity.

Reducing the After-Effect Pain
Using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory analgesics. Ibuprofen, Advil, and Motrin are some of the top alternatives to minimize the pain after root canal treatment.