Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that otherwise must be extracted. The tooth structure from outside to inside includes white enamel, dentin, and soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. Root canal therapy is needed when the pulp becomes infected or damaged. During root canal therapy the pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and then sealed from bacteria. After root canal therapy the tooth is restored with a crown for protection.

A tooth requires root canal therapy due to the following:

Infection in the pulp can be due to deep decay, trauma, large fillings, cracks and chips. The infected tooth may have visible injury or swelling of the gum around the tooth, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums or no symptoms.

Another reason could be that there is not sufficient tooth structure above the gumline to serve as an anchor for a crown restoration. Therefore, the root of the tooth may be utilized through root canal therapy to anchor a restoration.