Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy removes infection and decay from inside of an infected tooth. Infection or decay can occur from an untreated fracture or crack, a deep cavity, or an injury to the tooth. To save the compromised tooth from extraction, the pulp, bacteria, nerves, and any decay is removed and the space that is left hollow is filled with a special medicated dental material which restores the tooth to its full function. Left untreated, an injured tooth can lead to extreme pain, a dental abscess, or possible tooth loss. Removing a problematic tooth is NOT the only solution; root canal therapy can save a tooth that otherwise would die and need to be removed. Extracting a tooth may even be more costly and cause major issues for adjacent teeth. It is a successful treatment that generally lasts a lifetime, although it is possible a tooth will need to be re-treated due to a new infection.