Root Canal Treatment

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is a treatment sequence for the infected pulp of a tooth that is intended to result in the elimination of infection and the protection of the decontaminated tooth from future microbial invasion.

Sometimes bacteria enter the pulp of a tooth and cause an infection. When this occurs, root canal therapy is necessary to save the tooth. During this procedure, the infected pulp is removed and the tooth is sealed to prevent reinfection.

Common causes of damage to the pulp include:

• deep decay due to an untreated cavity
• multiple dental procedures on the same tooth
• a chip or crack in the tooth