Root canal therapy is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that would otherwise be lost as a result of infection or decay that has reached the tooth’s nerve. Occasionally, a tooth with no decay or visible but a history of trauma can end up requiring a root canal. Preserving the tooth is ideal because it eliminates the problems that a gap in the dental structure creates for the surrounding teeth—problems that quickly become more and more costly and inconvenient over the course of time.
In this procedure, the pulp of the tooth (the living tissue inside) is removed and the resulting space is filled materials that restore the tooth to full function. Root canal therapy is a highly successful, and, thanks to modern advancements in dental medicine, the procedure is far more comfortable than it has been in the past.
There are a number of signs that suggest root canal therapy may be necessary:
- An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold.
- Severe toothache pain.
- Swelling or tenderness.
