Inside each tooth lies a slender strand of ‘pulp’, which contains nerves and blood vessels that provide nutrients to the tooth —that extends down to the tooth’s root. If the pulp becomes infected or injured, the tooth’s nerves die, and often without endodontic treatment, this causes the tooth die as well. When a tooth’s pulp becomes irreversibly inflamed and infected, endodontic treatment (a root canal), is required to prevent the infection from spreading into the tissue. If this happens there will sometimes be facial or gum swelling which can also become very painful if left untreated.

Having a root canal preserves the tooth by removing the infection within the roots and filling the space with a special material. The only other option unfortunately would be to have the tooth extracted.

The procedure is relatively simple, despite what most people believe or have heard. The tooth is numbed (with anesthetic), a small opening is made through the biting surface of the tooth to access the infected material and relieve the pressure caused by the infection. The infected material is then removed and the pulp chamber is sealed. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple one or two visit procedure with little or no discomfort. The length of procedure varies depending on the number of roots and canals the particular tooth has.The treated tooth is then non-vital, which means it is more fragile/brittle than a healthy tooth and a crown/cap is generally recommended to prevent it from fracturing.

Please contact our office for more information on root canal therapy if you have any questions.