When a tooth needs root canal treatment
Inside every tooth is a soft centre - the pulp - containing nerves and blood vessels. When decay, a crack or an injury lets bacteria reach it, the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. That's what causes the deep, throbbing ache that keeps people awake, and often sensitivity to heat that lingers after the hot drink is gone.
Left alone, the infection can spread into the bone around the root and form an abscess. At that point the choice narrows to root canal treatment or extraction.
What the treatment involves
The tooth is numbed, the infected pulp is removed, and the canals inside the roots are cleaned, shaped and sealed. It's usually done over one or two appointments depending on the tooth and how much infection there is.
Because the tooth is numb throughout, the treatment itself typically feels much like having a filling. The pain people associate with root canals is nearly always the infection beforehand, not the procedure.
Afterwards
A tooth that's had root canal treatment is more brittle than a live one, particularly a back tooth doing heavy chewing work. A crown is often recommended afterwards to protect it from fracturing. We'll tell you whether that applies to your tooth.
