Root Canals

A root canal is a dental procedure used to treat a damaged or infected tooth. The procedure involves removing the damaged or infected pulp (the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels), cleaning and disinfecting the root canals (the tiny channels that run from the pulp chamber to the tip of the tooth’s root), and filling the canals with a special material to seal them.

A root canal is typically needed when the tooth’s pulp becomes infected or damaged due to deep decay, a crack or chip in the tooth, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or trauma to the face. Common symptoms of a damaged or infected tooth include severe toothache, sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, swelling or tenderness in the surrounding gums, and discoloration of the tooth.