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What
is endodontics? |
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Endodontics, also called root canal therapy, is a dental
specialty that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the
diseased dental pulp. The
dental pulp is the living tissue that contains the blood and
nerve supply of the tooth. The
tissue lies within the tooth and is very important in the
development of the tooth prior to eruption.
After the tooth has erupted and root formation is
complete, the tissue continues to provide minor functions
throughout the life of the tooth as long as it remains healthy.
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Tooth
(Molar) Normal
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The
dental pulp can become diseased due to a variety of factors,
including tooth decay, dental work, traumatic injuries,
bacterial leakage through microfractures, etc.
These irritations may result in inflammation and/or
infection of the pulp tissue.
Clinically, the irritation can result in a variety of
symptoms, including swelling, prolonged sensitivity to
temperature changes, or pain upon chewing.
In other cases the infection does not have any clinical
symptoms and is diagnosed with x-rays taken by the dentist.
Once the offending tooth has been identified, there are
two ways to solve the problem: save the tooth with endodontic
therapy, or extract the tooth.
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What
is endodontic therapy? |
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What
will your visit be like? |
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