Root canal treatment is a procedure to relieve dental pain and save your teeth. Patients typically need a root canal when there is inflammation or infection in the roots of a tooth. During root canal treatment an endodontist who specializes in such treatment carefully removes the pulp inside the tooth, cleans, disinfects, and shapes the root canals, and places a filling to seal the space.

Reasons for Root Canal Therapy:

• Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth)
• Infection or abscess has developed inside the tooth or at the root tip
• Injury or trauma to the tooth

What to expect during root canal appointment:

Your dentist will numb the area using localized anesthesia. The opening is made on top of the tooth and a series of root canal files are placed into the opening, one at a time, removing the pulp, nerve tissue, and bacteria. If tooth decay is present, it will also be removed with special dental instruments.

Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it will be sealed with either a permanent filling or, if additional appointments are needed, a temporary filling will be placed.