Root Canal Therapy

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Root canal therapy is the process of removing infected, injured or dead pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth) from the space inside your tooth - called the root canal system. The canal is then filled with materials designed to prevent infection from recurring and restore the tooth to its full function.

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A successful root canal treatment lets you keep your tooth rather than having it extracted. Keeping your tooth helps to prevent adjacent teeth from drifting out of line, causing further problems.

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Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend root canal therapy for the following reasons:

• Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth)

• Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip

• Injury or trauma to the tooth

 

Symptoms or signs for root canal therapy may include:

• Minimal to severe pain

• Tooth discoloration

• Sensitivity to hot and cold

• Swelling and irritation in the surrounding gum tissue

• Sometimes no symptoms are present