Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is a procedure to remove the pulp of a tooth. Each tooth has 3 parts: the crown, the root, and the pulp. The crown is the top part of the tooth that you can see. The root is the part of the tooth that goes down into the gum and jawbone. The pulp is in the center or "canal" of both the crown and root. The pulp is living tissue such as blood vessels and nerves inside the tooth. The crown and root are made up mostly of calcium and are not "alive." Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (known as the pulp) is infected through decay or injury.

The aim of the treatment is to remove all infection from the root canal. The root is then cleaned and filled to prevent any further infection.

Root canal treatment is a skilled and time-consuming procedure. Most courses of treatment will involve two or more visits to your dentist.

At the first appointment, the infected pulp is removed. Any abscesses, which may be present, can also be drained at this time. The root canal is then cleaned and shaped ready for the filling. A temporary filling is put in and the tooth is left to settle.

The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled.