Root Canal Therapy
A root canal treats the inside of a tooth when the pulp — the soft tissue holding its nerve and blood supply — becomes infected or inflamed. Rather than removing the tooth, the infected pulp is cleaned out, the canal is disinfected and sealed, and the tooth is restored, usually with a crown.
When it is needed
Deep decay, a crack, repeated dental work on the same tooth or an injury can all let bacteria reach the pulp. Lingering pain, sensitivity to heat or cold that does not settle, tenderness to biting, or swelling around a tooth are the usual signs, though an infected tooth can also give no warning at all and be found on an X-ray.
What it involves
The tooth is numbed and isolated, an opening is made, and the pulp chamber and canals are cleaned and shaped. Once they are disinfected they are filled and sealed. Because a treated tooth has lost its internal blood supply it becomes more brittle, so a crown is usually fitted afterwards to protect it.
Treatment may be completed in one visit or spread over two, depending on the tooth and the extent of the infection.
Related treatments
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