Sometimes, a tooth can become so severely damaged or infected that your dentist might discuss a couple of different kinds of treatment plans with you. The first is a root canal, and the other is a ...

Les Masterson is a deputy editor and insurance analyst at Forbes Advisor. He has been a journalist, reporter, editor and content creator for more than 25 years. He has covered insurance for a decade, ...

Gum disease — medically known as periodontitis — affects 47.2% of adults over age 30 in the U.S. About 8.5% of them may have severe periodontitis. Gum disease is a severe infection or inflammation of ...

The recovery timeline after a tooth extraction, such as wisdom teeth removal, depends on the severity of the extraction. Full recovery may take several months. It may not be your favorite way to spend ...

Root canal treatment is designed to save a natural tooth by removing infected pulp, not to cause pain. An infected tooth, often causing severe tooth pain or sensitivity, can lead to bone loss or ...

Nobody wants to hear those two words from their dentist: “root canal.” The procedure has such a bad reputation that people use it as a metaphor for anything unpleasant and painful. But here’s some ...

The tooth root sits below the gumline and helps anchor the tooth in the jawbone. An exposed root, which may poke through the gum, can indicate damage to the gums or teeth. When a tooth root is no ...