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Endodontics - Salt Lake City Root Canals

Salt Lake City Root Canals Murray UT Root Canals

Endodontics is the area of dentistry dealing with tooth aches.

Endodontic therapy (root canal) is a treatment modality that will save diseased or injured teeth. The alternative to endodontics is extraction. Typically, a severely decayed tooth, broken tooth, or a tooth with a large filling will begin to ache. The pain might be intermittent at first and over time progress to a constant dull throbbing pain or a severe ache that might be felt on all the teeth on the affected side. Sometimes there is no pain and an abscess might be discovered on a routine x-ray.

The pulp is the soft tissue that is located inside the tooth structure. It contains nerves and blood vessels. It is contained in the center of the tooth and its roots.

When the pulp is diseased or injured and unable to repair itself, it becomes infected. Left untreated, the pulp will die and become necrotic. Pus can build up at the root tip, forming an abscess that can destroy the bone surrounding the tooth. Endodontic treatment is the removal of the diseased pulp tissue, which will enable the body's defense system to repair the damage caused by the infection.

Following endodontic treatment the tooth will need to be stabilized and strengthened. Due to the large amount of tooth structure usually lost from decay and old fillings the preferred restoration is a crown. A post and/or build up may be placed into the root to give additional structural support.

Drs. Steven and Morgan Smith are dentists providing dental procedures such as cleanings, teeth whitening, dental implants, and porcelain veneers in Salt Lake City. Drs. Steven and Morgan Smith are licensed as a general dentists in the State of Utah.