Root Canal

A root canal is a treatment used to fix and spare a tooth that is decaying due to bacteria infecting the tooth. Inside your tooth, under the white enamel, there is a hard tissue called dentin, inside the dentin there is a soft tissue called pulp. The pulp contains the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels. If the pulp becomes inflamed or infected it will need to be removed to relieve your discomfort.

Why do I need this procedure?

When a tooth's nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. The bacteria and other decayed debris can cause an infection or abscessed tooth. An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of the roots of the tooth. An abscess occurs when the infection spreads all the way past the ends of the roots of the tooth.

Here are a few symptoms that mean you might need a root canal:

• Severe pain while chewing or biting

• Pimples on the gums

• A chipped or cracked tooth

• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been removed

• Swollen or tender gums

• Deep decay or darkening of the gums