Root Canal Treatment

A root canal is a treatment to repair and save an immensely damaged or infected tooth instead of removing it. The procedure involves removing the damaged zone of the tooth (the pulp) and cleaning and disinfecting it, then filling and sealing it.

Root canal or endodontic treatment—treatment is washed-up to the inside of the tooth—is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, faulty crowns, or a one-liner or Tweedle in the tooth.

During root canal or endodontic treatment, the inflamed or infected pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed with a rubber-like material tabbed gutta-percha. Afterward, the tooth is replaced with a crown or filling for protection. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like a normal tooth.

Endodontic treatment helps you maintain your natural smile, protract eating the foods you love and limits the need for ongoing dental work. With proper care and protection, most teeth that have had root canal treatment can last a lifetime.