Why San Juan Capistrano residents may need root canal treatment from the dentist

Endodontic therapy, more commonly known as root canal treatment, is a common, and greatly misunderstood, dental procedure. Although a tooth appear solid, it actually has a hollow space in the middle that contains viscous tissues, called dental pulp. The hollow area extends through a canal in the tooth root, all the way to the bone. Root canal treatment removes injured or infected pulp, and seals the tooth.

How dental pulp becomes damaged
Ideally, pulp should be completely protected from trauma or bacteria, because it is shrouded in a thick layer of hard tooth material. However, damage can occur in many ways:

• Cavities erode the hard outer layer of enamel, and chew into the slightly softer dentin layer beneath it. If not treated, they will continue increasing in size, eventually working through the dentin to expose the pulp in the middle of the tooth.
• Even if you have no cavities, a crack in the tooth can provide a passageway for bacteria to reach the dental pulp. Because bacteria are microscopic, they can even travel through a hairline fracture that is too small to see with the naked eye. Fracturing is usually caused by oral injury, biting down on something hard, or bruxism (teeth grinding).
• Large fillings or other old dental restorations can sometimes disguise cavities. Dental materials are immune to decay, but the underlying tooth material is not. If plaque or bacteria work behind the filling, a deep cavity can form without you even seeing it.

Why damaged pulp needs to be removed
Unfortunately, once dental pulp is injured or infected, it will not heal on its own. Inflammation causes pressure inside of the tooth, sensitizing the nerve, which is part of the pulp. As a result, even slight pressure, or contact with hot or cold foods, can cause pain. When infection is present, it can travel and accumulate in surrounding tissues creating a pus pocket called an abscess.

Although root canal treatment has a reputation for causing pain, the opposite is actually true. The procedure removes the source of the problem, including the injured nerve, effectively relieving pain. When performed by a competent, experienced, compassionate dentist such as Dr. Alex or Nina Basti, this treatment is extremely comfortable, and highly predictable.

Discover why residents from Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, and other communities throughout the area trust their oral health to Drs. Basti. Call 949-427-2096 and schedule your appointment today.