Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy, also known as endodontic therapy, is a dental procedure used to treat infection or inflammation of the nerve tissue inside a tooth. The procedure involves removing the infected or inflamed tissue, cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the tooth, and then filling and sealing the tooth.

The procedure starts with the dentist numbing the area around the tooth to be treated. Then the dentist will create an opening through the top of the tooth and remove the infected or inflamed tissue, including the nerve and blood vessels, from inside the tooth. After the inside of the tooth has been cleaned and disinfected, it is filled with a material called gutta-percha and sealed with a filling or crown.

Root canal therapy is typically done to save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. It can also help to alleviate pain or sensitivity in a tooth. It usually requires one or two visits to the dentist, and the tooth is usually numb for a few hours after the procedure.