Every tooth has two sections: a crown, the visible part of the tooth above the gum line, and one or more roots, which anchor the teeth within the jaw. Each tooth has three basic layers: an outer layer of hard enamel (which protects the crown) or cementum (which covers the root), a middle layer of softer dentin, and, inside the center of the tooth, the pulp. 

Pulp is living tissue containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. It’s found in the pulp chamber within the crown and in the root canals that lead from the pulp chamber to the tip of each root. 

When the tooth pulp is infected or dying, it can’t be restored. Without prompt treatment, tooth extraction is often necessary. Moreover, an infection in the pulp can spread to the gum tissue, the jawbone, and other parts of the body. A root canal dentist in Flint can prevent tooth loss and more widespread infection by removing infected pulp tissue and restoring the integrity of the tooth structure. Patients in need of an emergency root canal in Flint can rely on Axcel Dental for timely care. 

What Can Make Root Canal Treatment Necessary? 

Even with the protective layers surrounding it, the tooth pulp is vulnerable to infection and injury: 

• A deep cavity can extend to the pulp chamber, permitting bacteria to reach the pulp and cause infection. 

• Similarly, a broken or cracked tooth can allow bacteria access to the pulp chamber. 

• With serious gum disease, infection can spread from the gums to the pulp inside the roots. 

• Tooth trauma can critically damage the nerves or the blood vessels inside the tooth, leading to pulp death. 

A tooth that needs root canal treatment might be symptom-free, but any of these symptoms are strong indications that the pulp has suffered infection or injury: