Endodontics Santa Cruz, CA
Endodontic root canal treatment and retreatment.
Each tooth in your mouth sits in bone and is surrounded by gum tissue. Approximately two-thirds of each tooth (the root portion) is in jaw bone. Inside every tooth is a canal or canals (usually depending on the number of roots the tooth has). Each canal has a vein, artery and nerve in it. Collectively they are referred to as the pulp. Sometimes, because of trauma like decay or a large filling, the pulp becomes irritated and can get infected. In this case, root canal (a.k.a. endodontics) is necessary in order to save the tooth.
A small hole is made in the top part of the tooth, the canal(s) is cleaned of infected (or dead) pulp, made sterile then filled with a material specific for the procedure. The whole process can usually take from one or more appointments, depending on the number of roots.
Our endodontic services include:
- Relieve a painful or infected tooth with root canal treatment.
- Root canals that become re-infected are treated with an apicoectomy.
- Infections are drained and treated with an abscess removal.
- Deep stains in treated teeth can be lightened with internal bleaching.