When a tooth is threatened by severe decay, periodontal disease, or damage from an injury, a skilled dentist or endodontist must make a judgment call concerning the course of treatment. If the pulp of the tooth is infected or inflamed, a root canal is ordinarily the only way to save the tooth.
I am Dr. Craig Longenecker, DDS, of Hereford Dental Health – Craig Longenecker DDS. I have been practicing dentistry since 1998. During that time I have seen hundreds of teeth saved by this effective dental procedure. Root canal therapy has a very high success rate.
During a root canal dental procedure (or endodontic treatment), the soft tissue in the root of the tooth is removed. This tissue contains veins, arteries, and lymph vessels. Once the roots are taken out and widened, they are filled with a special rubber material.
The root canal is only the first step in the complete tooth restoration. After the root canal, without a crown, the tooth will become dry and brittle. The final processes are the core build-up and crown.
At Hereford Dental Health – Craig Longenecker DDS, we engineer strong, natural-looking crowns that blend perfectly with the surrounding teeth. With proper oral hygiene and semiannual visits to your dentist, a tooth with a filled root can often function properly for the rest of a patient’s life.
Because teeth with infected pulp tissue often do not generate symptoms, it is vital to have regular dental examinations. I can determine which (if any) teeth have infected roots. If the infection in the soft pulp tissue is left untreated, it can move up to a point where the tooth cannot be saved.
Contact Hereford Dental Health – Craig Longenecker DDS:
410-357-0099
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
16928 York Rd
Monkton, Maryland
21111
