How does the dental pulp become damaged or infected?

The dental pulp can become damaged by trauma or by infection. Trauma to a tooth can occur by getting hit in the mouth or by biting an extremely hard object or by clenching or grinding ones teeth. Infection can occur by decay (cavity) advancing to the space where the nerve is located.

What is Endodontics?

Endodontic treatment is the treatment of the tooth's root canal system or the system of blood vessels and nerves on the internal structure of the tooth. It involves the removal of the tissue inside the tooth, the cleaning and shaping of that space, the sterilization of that space, and finally the filling of that space. Once a tooth has been treated it usually requires a full coverage restoration.

Are pain pills and antibiotics an acceptable substitute for root canal?

There are two types of inflammation to the nervous system which are reversible and irreversible. A nerve that is reversibly inflammed can be treated with anti-inflammatory or pain pills until the pain subsides. Once the tooth is infected an antibiotic can help with the infection, but will not treat the source of the infection. A root canal is needed to treat an infected tooth and an inflammed tooth that is irreversibly inflammed.

What Happens at an Endodontic consultation?

An endodontic consultation uses varied tests to determine the life of a tooth. Usually a radiograph (xray) of a tooth is taken and the dentist interprets the images around the tooth and within the tooth. Pressure tests are conducted to see if the tooth is sensitive to biting and pressure. Temperture tests are performed to see if the tooth is sensitive to hot and/or cold. Electrical tests are performed to determine the sensitivity of the tooth to an electrical stimulus. The dentist then takes all of this information and makes a diagnosis as to the health of the nerve of the tooth.