When a cavity becomes too severe, a filling is not enough to treat the tooth. If the decay reaches the nerve of the affected tooth, or there is an infection in the tooth, a root canal treatment may allow you to preserve it rather than extract it.

A root canal, or endodontic treatment, is a procedure that removes infected, damaged and/or dead dental pulp from the canals of your teeth and replacing it with an obturating material. The pulp is the tissue of the tooth that contains the nerves and blood vessels that allow the tooth to develop. If damaged by the entry of bacteria, this can lead to an abscess, which is an infection of the dental pulp. Abscesses can cause pain or inflammation. Your dentist can detect infections from a dental X-ray or by observing other changes in the jawbone. If the abscess is left untreated, the infection can spread to organs near the mouth, such as the brain, heart and lungs, severely damaging your health.

By removing the pulp, the tooth can still remain in the mouth and maintain its functions, such as eating, holding the position of other teeth and preserving the jawbone. However, after root canal treatment, your tooth needs to be restored to regain its strength. If your root canal was performed by an endodontist (root canal specialist), he or she will fill the tooth with a temporary filling and refer you to your dentist. Your dentist will then decide whether a simple filling is sufficient, or whether a crown is required to support mastication.

Root canal therapy is a painless treatment option that preserves the natural tooth. Despite its high cost, it is an alternative to extraction, and has an excellent success rate. However, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene and to visit your dentist for annual check-ups. Consult your dentist to learn more about root canal therapy.