Endodontic Treatment - The facts

WHAT IS ENDODONTIC TREATMENT AND WHY IS IT NECESSARY?

"Endo" is the Greek word for "inside", and "odont" is Greek for tooth. Endodontic treatment treats problems associated with the inside of the tooth. Teeth are covered by a very hard, white material called enamel. Inside this is a deeper material called dentin, also hard but less so than enamel. At the centre of the dentin is a hollow space than extends from the "crown" of the tooth down to the tips of the roots within your jaw. In this hollow space is living tissue called the "dental pulp" containing blood vessels and nerves. It is similar to most other tissue in your body except that it is very sensitive and is surrounded by the hard tissue of the tooth. Once your tooth is fully formed, this tissue gives you feedback on when you are biting too hard, and when things are hot or cold etc. Since this tissue is not critical to your tooth during your adult life, the tooth can actually survive almost unchanged without this tissue.