The
root canal procedure involves removing the infected or dead dental pulp
in the tooth and filling it to strengthen the tooth and restore
functionality. Additionally, following root canal therapy, the tooth
will need to be fitted with a new crown or cap, to protect the treated
tooth.
Root canal treatment is completed in one or two office visits, depending on the presence of infection and the required treatment plan. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth. With good oral hygiene, the restored tooth has the potential to last a lifetime.
Root canal therapy is necessary when decay, trauma, or infection causes such extensive damage to the tooth structure that the internal nerve of the tooth has become affected. The development of root canal therapy, however, allows the tooth to be preserved thus avoiding the tooth to be extracted. Endodontic treatment is also known as a "root canal."
