Tooth Sensitivity That Requires a Root Canal

If things like drinking hot coffee or eating ice cream causes you to wince with pain, you might suffer from tooth sensitivity.

There can be a lot of underlying causes of tooth sensitivity, including cavities caused by general tooth decay, fractured teeth with exposed dentin, old fillings that are about to fail, eroded tooth enamel and periodontal disease.

The underlying cause of the sensitivity will greatly influence the best treatment option or lifestyle change needed to improve the problem. In some cases, tooth decay can reach all the way through the layer of dentin to the root of your tooth.

If this is the cause of your tooth sensitivity, then you may need a root canal.

A root canal procedure, also known as endodontic therapy, shares many procedures with fitting a basic crown. The major difference with a root canal is that more of the tooth is removed. With a root canal, the infected parts of the tooth are removed and replaced with a material called gutta-percha.

An impression is then taken and the abutment is then fitted with a temporary crown. The impression is sent off to a dental laboratory where a permanent crown is made.

Your dentist will then schedule a follow-up appointment a few weeks later to fit the final permanent crown in place. The tooth then has all the same strength and durability of any other tooth in your mouth.

If you are concerned that you might need a root canal, please feel free to call us at 513-932-6991 to schedule an appointment.