How Does Root Canal Treatment Work?
Learn how root canal treatment works to save damaged teeth by removing infection and sealing the tooth. Understand the procedure and recovery.
Overview
Learn how root canal therapy removes infected pulp, relieves pain, and helps preserve a natural tooth.
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Root Canal Treatment - Overview
Root canal treatment is performed when the dental pulp inside a tooth becomes inflamed, infected, or irreversibly damaged. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.
Damage may result from deep decay, fractures, trauma, repeated dental procedures, leaking restorations, or severe tooth wear. Symptoms can include persistent pain, temperature sensitivity, discomfort when biting, swelling, tooth discoloration, or a small lesion on the gum.
During treatment, the dentist or endodontist creates an opening in the tooth, removes the affected pulp, and cleans and disinfects the root canals. The canals are then filled and sealed to reduce the risk of reinfection.
Some cases can be completed in one appointment, while complex infections may require several visits. After treatment, the tooth is restored with a filling, onlay, or crown.
Root canal therapy allows many teeth to be preserved instead of extracted. The suitability of treatment depends on remaining tooth structure, root condition, periodontal support, fracture risk, and whether the tooth can be restored predictably.