Root Canal Therapy

A root canal may become necessary if there are cavities, fractures or infection of a tooth. If a tooth becomes infected with bacteria and begins to die, a root canal will be used to help remove the source of the infection and allow your body to fight off any remaining infection and heal.

To further understand how this can happen we will go over what makes up your tooth. A tooth has two main divisions: the crown (the visible portion) and the root (inside your gums and jawbone). Additionally, there are three main segments of a tooth: the outer enamel layer, the middle layer known as dentin, and the inner layer called the pulp chamber. The pulp chamber houses all of the living inner workings of your tooth, including all of the nerves and blood vessels.

If the pulp chamber of your tooth becomes infected and the “living” part of your tooth begins to die, then a root canal might be necessary to help save the tooth and remove the infection. A root canal will remove the cavity and clear out the pulp chamber and canals within the root of the infected tooth. Once this is completed the space will be filled with a rubber-like material called Gutta Percha. This will help to block bacteria from re-accessing the tooth and pulp chamber. This allows you to keep the tooth with no pain.

Signs and causes that a tooth is infected and might need a root canal include intense tooth pain, an increase to heat/cold sensitivity in a specific tooth or have recently experienced a trauma to your mouth or tooth. If you are concerned about an unexplained pain or other symptom, then its best to speak to a dentist as soon as possible.

If you have any concerns, our dentists will be able to examine the tooth in question and consult if you may require the root canal procedure.