Root Canals
Root canal therapy (endodontics) is a type treatment used to repair, restore and save a tooth that is badly decayed or infected. During a root canal procedure, the infected nerve and pulp are removed through an intricate procedure, using various hand and rotary instruments. Once the nerve of the tooth is removed it is replaced with a rubber material that fills the space left in the canal, preventing the re-occurrence of infection. Once the canal space is filled a composite filling is placed to fill the hole in the enamel surface of the tooth. Root canal therapy is done in an effort to save your natural teeth and restore function so you can maintain your natural smile for as long as possible.
Once a tooth has had root canal treatment, it is often recommended to have a crown placed on it to protect the tooth’s integrity. Because the tooth is essentially “dead”, there is no nutrients or blood supply going to the tooth and they can become very brittle over time and break.
