Gum & Root Canal
Dr Dunbar and his staff offer gum and root canal treatments, which deal with diseases of the tooth's pulp located in the center of the tooth and in canals (called root canals) within each tooth root. When tooth decay advances far enough to permanently harm the pulp, the only way to eliminate pain is to remove the pulp by root canal (endodontic) treatment or tooth extraction. Pulp, consisting of connective tissue, nerves and blood vessels, nourishes the tooth when it first erupts (emerges through the gum). Once the tooth matures, the pulp can be removed safely from the pulp chamber and root canals and the tooth can be maintained. This is because the tooth also is nourished by a blood supply that surrounds the tooth. Removing the pulp is called endodontic treatment, but it is often referred to as root canal treatment or root canal therapy.
Having root canal treatment on a tooth does not mean that you'll need to have it pulled out in a few years. The reason for doing root canal treatment is often a large cavity. The tooth often is weakened, but if the tooth is covered with a crown after the root canal or, in some cases, restored with tooth-colored composite filling material, the tooth can last the rest of your life.
Contact us today: (864) 573-9255