Ladd Dental Group

Root Canal Explained "Has your dentist told you that you need root canal treatment ? If so, you're not alone. Millions of teeth are treated and saved each year with the root canal, or endodontic, treatment . This page explains root canal treatment in detail and how it can relieve your tooth pain and save your smile.  What is endodontic treatment? “Endo” is the Greek word for “inside” and “odont” is Greek for “tooth.” Endodontic treatment treats the inside of the tooth. Root canal treatment is one type of endodontic treatment. To understand endodontic treatment, it helps to know something about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during development. The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the roots where it connects to...

What is a Root Canal? "A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a  tooth  that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a  root canal procedure , the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the  tooth  is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the  tooth  will become infected and abscesses may form.  "Root canal" is the term used to describe the natural cavity within the center of the tooth. The pulp or pulp chamber is the soft area within the root canal. The tooth's nerve lies within the root canal.  A tooth's nerve is not vitally important to a tooth's health and function after the tooth has emerged through the gums. Its only function is sensory -- to provide the sensation of hot or cold. The presence or absence of a nerve will not affect the day-to-day functioning of the tooth.   Why Does Tooth Pulp Need to Be Removed? When a tooth's nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks do...