Root Canals

Root Canals

Root canal therapy becomes necessary when a tooth’s nerve is affected by decay or infection. To save the tooth, we perform a procedure which removes the pulp (the living nerve tissue inside the tooth), bacteria, and any decay. The resulting space is then filled with special medicated dental materials to restore the tooth’s function.

Having a root canal done on a tooth is the preferred treatment to save the tooth and avoid the need for extraction. While some patients may consider extracting the tooth,it should be recognized that pulling a tooth can lead to higher costs in replacement and significant problems for adjacent teeth.

Signs and symptoms for root canal therapy:

  • An abscess (or pimple) on the gums
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold
  • Severe toothache pain
  • Sometimes no symptoms are present
  • Swelling and/or tenderness

Reasons for root canal therapy:

  • The tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth) has been affected by decay
  • An infection or abscess has emerged inside the tooth or at the root tip
  • Injury or trauma to the tooth.