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Signs of Tooth Root Decay

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From Quick Guide: Root Canals 101

Summary: Beware if your teeth look like this! Learn how to spot early symptoms of tooth decay in the canal area in this dental health video from an experienced dentist.

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By Michael Chen
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Michael Chen is presently teaching courses about implant dentistry to other dentists. They range from introductory to advance courses. Dr. Chen uses implant components from Nobel...read more

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Video Transcript

"With the root canal, really it's necessary because of the breakdown of the nerve tissue. The cause of the breakdown of the nerve tissue is caused by bacteria. And the bacteria is basically the way it enters is through a cavity. What is a cavity? A cavity is when the bacteria is able to get a hold of the tooth structure, adhere to it, and slowly breakdown the root structure or the enamel structure. As it breaks into a tooth, basically, as it eats its way as its able to break into the enamel, it slowly eats the enamel structure away. It eats away the calcium in that area. And as it does so, it will get into the center part of the tooth and once it does so then it comes close to the nerve and it will get into the nerve. When it does come close to the nerve, one of the early sign and symptom is some form of thermo-sensitivity. Thermo-sensitivity can be cold, can be hot, and also for sweet sensitivity and even when you're chewing you feel discomfort or irritation on that tooth. The most important thing is if that sensitivity is just a little bit, it doesn't linger for more than a minute, then for the most part it might just be some root exposure or there is a cavity that needs to be addressed. But if that sensitivity is more than a minute or when you bite down that pain just lingers tremendously for a while you know the nerve has been damaged. So we can pretty much tell when the nerve is damaged and needs a root canal or the nerve is not damaged and doesn't need a root canal based on the symptom that the patient describes to us."

eHow Article: Signs of Tooth Root Decay

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