Root Canals

Root canal treatment is needed when the nerve in a tooth has been damaged by any variety of reasons. Some causes of damage are trauma, deep decay, large fillings, bacterial infection, tooth fracture, tooth cracks or sometimes simply a random occurrence of nerve tissue death at any given time. The blood supply and nerve innervation to a tooth run through the central canal inside the tooth root. When this tissue becomes damaged, the most common symptoms are temperature sensitivity, pain when eating, random toothaches and in some cases, swelling and/or drainage from the site of infection. When a root canal procedure is done, the dentist will remove the nerve tissue inside the root, clean and disinfect the canal space and fill the hollow canal with a sealer material. After a root canal is done, a permanent crown must be placed. The crown will restore the tooth and protect the treated root canal from micro-leakage of bacteria into the root canals. Root canal treatment is the only way to save a tooth with irreversible nerve damage.