Each tooth, in its deepest portion, has an area that is filled by a complex network of blood vessels and nerves.  This is called the pulp, and travels along each tooth’s root(s) and communicates with the blood vessels that supply the jaw bones.  When there is disease within the tooth, aka tooth decay, that gets so deep that it infects the pulp, that is when you notice pain in or around the tooth.  Like it hurts to chew, or it hurts when you’re trying to sleep.  By then, it is very late.  So many times, I’ve been asked, “if you just put a filling, won’t it solve the problem?”

Sadly, the answer is no.  With an infected pulp there are 2 treatment options – removal of the nerve (through the tooth), or removal of the tooth along with the nerve.    Removal of the nerve and treating the insides of the root is requires a lot of work, like what a heart surgeon must do to surgically access a patient’s heart.  First, the tooth is put to sleep with a local anesthetic; once asleep, we gain access to the pulp.  After gently removing the infected or inflamed pulp, the inside of the root canal is carefully shaped and disinfected. The canal is then filled and sealed with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. Once the root canal therapy has been completed the remaining tooth structure may be more brittle than before, therefore you should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until your dentist provides you with a permanent restoration  (onlay or crown).