Tooth Decay is observed when so much of the tooth's mineral content as been dissolved away that a defect (a hole or a "cavity") has formed.

Tooth decay is the result of acid breaking down or demineralizing the tooth.

This acid is a product of the bacteria that live in dental plaque.  

When we consume foods and beverages, the bacteria that live in the plaque on our teeth breakdown or "digest" these sugars.  The waste they produce is acid.

The Acid demineralizes and weakens the tooth structure and essentially 'tunnels' through the tooth.  

When the walls of these "tunnels' become thin, they cave in and become "cavities."

These cavities then allow more debris of food and bacteria to enter the tooth and the process continues deeper and deeper into the tooth.

Since the bacteria that live in our mouth eat when we do, as we ingest foods which contain sugars (such as soda, candy, milk, and even fruits and vegetables) these bacteria get a meal too. And within minutes they start producing the acids that cause tooth decay.  That is why it is so important to limit the amount of sugary or starchy foods that we eat and why we must brush our teeth 2-3 times per day.

When decay becomes deep enough, it enters the pulp, or living tissue of the tooth which contains the blood supply and nerves. 

Bacteria enters the root canal system and eventually invades the bone surrounding the tooth.  This creates an infection called an abscess.

The symptoms of an abscess include swelling and inflammation, tooth pain and discomfort in the surrounding tissues.  

In order to eliminate infection and prevent the eventual loss of a tooth, we must clean and disinfect the canals.  

We acheive this by cleaning and shaping the canals using files, irrigating the canals using an disinfecting solution, and placing sterile filling material in the canals to seal the inside of the tooth off from any other bacteria.

Dr. Jenkins uses a series of Nickle Titanium rotary files to shape the canals into a perfect cone, increasing the chances of removing bacteria that may have penetrated deeper into the walls of the tooth. 

She also uses an EndoVac system that pulls irrigating solution down to the very tip of the tooth, ensuring that every part of the tooth is disinfected.

Root Canal treatments can take up to two appointments depending on the severity of the infection.

95% of all root canal treatments are successful but depend largely on the number of complications that arise.

Complications include but are not limited to :

• separated (or broken) files in the canal of the tooth. 
• Severe calcification that prevents the navigation through and disinfection of the canals.
• Extra (or accessory) canals that cannot be navigated and disinfected or are even missed because they cannot be seen in the x ray.
• Filling material that extends beyond the apex (or end) of the root and prevents the surrounding tissues from healing. 
  
• Fractures in the roots of the teeth that cannot be visualized at the time of treatment. 
  

If complications prevent the success of a root canal treatment, we can remove the filling material and re treat the canals, surgically remove the tips of the roots and surrounding infected tissue, or in some cases (like fractures) an extraction may be necessary.

When the blood supply to the tooth is taken out in the process of the root canal treatment, the tooth becomes dehydrated and brittle.  

When the tooth becomes brittle, it is likely to crack and break.  We crown these teeth soon after a root canal treatment to prevent this from happening.