Root Canal Treatment

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a pulp chamber inside a tooth. It contains pulp, nerves, and blood vessels. These connect your tooth to your bone and gums. Every root has a root canal; some have more than one.

When a root canal becomes infected or inflamed, it needs a root canal procedure to treat it. If left untreated, the infection spreads to other teeth and other parts of your body. Your tooth may turn black or yellow, and you’re more at risk of experiencing heightened symptoms, like pain.

The alternative to a root canal procedure is tooth extraction. But that can cause more pain, more expenses down the road, and you’ll lose the health benefits of your natural tooth.

What causes a tooth to get infected?

Common causes for root canal infections include:

Dental decay(cavities) that spreads beneath the enamel layer and into the pulp chamber.

Like chips and cracks, dental damage exposes the inner layer of your tooth, allowing harmful bacteria inside.

Dental trauma, even if there aren’t visible signs.

Repeated dental treatments to a tooth.