Root canal therapy is a common and well-known dental treatment used to save teeth that are infected or damaged. In a nutshell, root canal treatment involves the removal of the soft, vulnerable tissue inside the tooth to treat and prevent infection.
How does root canal treatment work?
The soft tissue inside your tooth, called the pulp, is a bundle of blood vessels and nerves. If the tooth is damaged and bacteria get to the pulp an infection can result. Left untreated, this infection can spread to the gums and bone tissue above the tooth and cause a dangerous infection called an abscess. This can result in the loss of the tooth and damage to the surrounding tissues.
When a tooth is damaged, we drill a hole in it and remove the pulp. Then we clean the inside of the tooth and seal it to prevent bacteria from entering, and we restore the tooth with a crown.
Aren’t root canals painful?
While root canal therapy has a reputation for being painful, with modern techniques the procedure is usually no more uncomfortable than having a tooth filled. The treatment is done under a local anesthetic and we provide sedation dentistry for anxious patients.
If you’re suffering from a severe toothache, your tooth may have become infected. Call our office to book an examination.