Root Canal

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is an endodontic treatment done to save a tooth that otherwise would have to be extracted. It is usually required after the decay has reached the dental pulp or after a severe trauma. Root canal therapy is successful approximately 95% of the time. Remember, a healthy restored tooth is always better than an artificial one.

Why couldn’t you just remove the tooth?

The choice is yours, but there are many disadvantages to losing a tooth. When a tooth is removed and not replaced, the teeth next to the empty space begin to shift from their normal position. This may cause teeth to become crooked or crowded, which decreases chewing and biting efficiency. Crowded or crooked teeth may be more prone to dental disease because they are harder to keep clean than properly aligned teeth. As a result, other teeth may be lost if the missing tooth is not replaced. A replacement tooth (an implant or a bridge) is usually more expensive than Endodontic treatment and involves more extensive dental procedures on adjacent teeth.

Why is a Root Canal Necessary?

When the pulp is diseased or injured and unable to repair itself, the pulp dies. The most common cause of pulp death is tooth fracture, trauma or a deep cavity that exposes the pulp to saliva. The bacteria found in saliva causes infection inside the tooth. Left untreated, the infection eventually causes the pulp to die. Pus can build up at the root tip, forming an abscess than can destroy the supporting bone that surrounds the tooth.
If the damaged or diseased pulp is not removed, the tooth and surrounding tissues become infected. Pain and swelling may accompany the infection. Even in the absence of pain, certain byproducts of a diseased pulp can injure the bone that anchors your tooth in the jaw. Without Endodontic treatment, your tooth will eventually have to be removed