What is a root canal?
Root Canal Therapy (RCT) treats an infected tooth or a tooth with a dying nerve. Successful treatment saves the tooth and avoids the need to replace the tooth with an artificial tooth, such as an implant or bridge. The procedure for a root canal usually involves several appointments. Diagnosing which tooth is the cause of the problem can be tricky and is clearly critical to success.
The initial appointment for a root canal therapy involves locating one or more canals within the tooth and removing the pulp (nerve) or cleaning out the infection. A second appointment to finish the root canal consists of further cleaning and disinfecting of the canal system. A filling material (gutta percha), along with a sealing agent fills the canal space. When the RCT has been completed, a crown is often recommended to maintain the structural integrity and aesthetic requirements of the tooth. If the tooth already has a crown, a filling may be placed in the access opening to seal the root canal filling.