A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned, filled with medicated materials and sealed. Having a root canal done on a tooth is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed.
Why tooth extraction is not always the best solution.
Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution, but what they may not realize is that extracting (pulling) a tooth will ultimately be more costly and can cause significant problems for adjacent teeth.
Root canal treatment is highly successful and usually lasts a lifetime, although on occasion, a tooth will need to be retreated due to new infections.
Will root canal therapy hurt?
Not with today's advanced technology. In fact, the entire process can be so comfortable that many patients doze off. Often times, root canal therapy can be completed in a single appointment. While some patients experience some soreness afterward, this can usually be controlled with over-the-counter medications.