Located in the center of the tooth called the root canal, a tooth’s nerve and pulp can become irritated and infected if there is deep decay, chips or cracks, or if too many dental procedures have been performed on that tooth.
If at all possible, our primary objective is to save a tooth that has become damaged or infected, and a root canal may be one of the procedures we’d recommend in order to achieve this goal. During the procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and then sealed. If left untreated, the tissue surrounding the tooth can become infected and an abscess could occur.
A tooth’s nerve is not important to a tooth’s health and function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. Its only function is to provide the sensation of hot or cold and the absence of this nerve will not affect the chewing function of that tooth.
Once the root canal procedure is completed, the pulp chamber is sealed with a composite tooth colored filling or a porcelain crown.
If you have a tooth that is sensitive to hot and cold, we can help! Please give us a call at 831.688.6531 or send an email to Info@CreekViewDentistry.com to find out more about our staff and the endodontic, root canal services we provide. We located at 9059 Soquel Drive, Suite A, Aptos, CA 95003 and serve Santa Cruz, Soquel, Capitola, Watsonville and the surrounding areas.