Root Canal Treatments

Root canal treatment (also referred to as root canal therapy or endodontic therapy) is made necessary when a cavity is allowed to reach the tooth’s pulp (the tooth’s nerve and blood supply). Regular cleanings and checkups prevent and detect problems early. Deep restorations or trauma to a tooth may cause the nerve to be damaged and root canal therapy required. Once this occurs, the pulp becomes infected and can even extend through the root tip. The infection begins to eat away at the surrounding bone, also known as an abscess. By the time the pulp is infected, it must be treated and cannot heal on its own. Patients may choose between root canal therapy or extraction of the tooth.

Symptoms that the pulp has become infected may include sensitivity to hot/cold or sweets. Swelling, pain to biting or pressure and a bad taste in one’s mouth are also prominent symptoms of infection. Sometimes, however, no symptoms are apparent and the person is unaware of any problem until a routine checkup. 

A root canal is subsequently performed to clean out the infected tooth pulp and disinfect the canal(s) of the tooth. The only other treatment option would be to extract the tooth. Once the infection is resolved, the canal(s) are filled in with Gutta-percha to prevent any further infection. As a final step, core build-up and crown restoration is recommended for restoring the tooth that has had root canal therapy.