Years ago, diseased or injured teeth were usually pulled. But today, a tooth can often be saved through root canal therapy.

Endodontics (en-do-DON-tics) is the branch of dentistry that specializes in treating diseases or injuries to the dental pulp. Endodontists are dentists that specialize in treating diseases of, or injuries to, dental pulp. Your dentist may refer you to an endodontist to perform your root canal procedure.

Treatment is needed for infected or inflamed pulp

The pulp is soft tissue inside the tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves. When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, treatment is needed.

Pulp infection and inflammation most often occur if you have:

• a cracked or chipped tooth
• a deep cavity or filling
• other serious injury to the tooth

All of these can allow bacteria to enter the pulp and cause infection and/or inflammation.

Problems from infected or inflamed pulp

The infection or inflammation in the pulp can spread to the tissues around the root of the tooth. This can cause pain and swelling, but even if there is no pain, bacteria from the infection can damage the bone that holds the tooth in your jaw.

Without a root canal, the infection and damage will continue and your tooth most likely will need to be removed.

Removing but not replacing a tooth can create problems

When a tooth is removed and not replaced, the teeth around it may shift. This can make it hard to bite, chew and clean your teeth. Areas in your mouth that are not cleaned well are more likely to have problems like decay or gum disease.

Root canal therapy can prevent these problems by saving your natural tooth. Also, root canal therapy is usually less expensive than a replacement tooth. 

General steps of root canal therapy

Root canal therapy may involve one or more dental visits. Your dentist or endodontist will perform the necessary steps to save your tooth:

1. Your tooth is numbed for your comfort. A thin, flexible sheet of latex or non-latex material called a rubber dam is placed over your tooth to keep it dry. An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
2. Your tooth’s nerve or pulp is removed from the pulp chamber and the canal of each root of the tooth. Each root canal is cleaned, shaped and disinfected so that it can be filled.
3. Your dentist may place medicine in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help treat the infection.
4. The treated root canals are filled with a rubber-like material to seal them.
5. A temporary filling is placed in your tooth to prevent infection of the root canals. You may be given antibiotics if the infection has spread beyond the end of the root(s).
6. Finally, your dentist removes the temporary filling and restores the tooth with a crown or a permanent filling to strengthen it and improve the way it looks. 

It is very important to follow instructions from your dental team and to attend all of your follow-up appointments.