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Mar
At the Atlanta Center for Dental Health in Alpharetta, we see patients regularly who are interested in improving their smiles. For some, a visit may be for pain or discomfort that may indicate a problem. This can happen between recall appointments. Dr. Bradley R. Hepler encourages patients to visit his practice if they have any dental concerns between regularly scheduled appointments.
Some patients who are experiencing dental pain may be dealing with a variety of issues. They may have a large cavity that is allowing food to contact the nerves of the tooth. They may have an abscess, or they may be presented with an infection that has affected the inner portion of the tooth. In some cases, the treatment needed is root canal therapy.
Root canal therapy is often called endodontic therapy. This is a relatively routine procedure that is done when the dental pulp inside of a tooth is infected or inflamed. This results in pain that is caused by the damage of the nerves. At this point, it is important for patients to make an appointment with the team at the Atlanta Center for Dental Health to evaluate the situation, determine the source of the problem, and determine the most appropriate treatment.
Root canal therapy is done by removing the dental pulp from inside the tooth, disinfecting the inner canals of the tooth, and sealing it off with gutta-percha and composite resin bonding. Because the removal of the dental pulp can weaken the tooth, it may be necessary to place a dental crown over the top of the tooth for protection.
Root canal therapy is very successful for many patients. It avoids the cost and problems associated with the extraction of an adult tooth, and it allows patients to maintain the health of their smiles with their natural tooth intact.