Root Canal Treatment/Therapy
We live in a disposable, all-things-recyclable era. Yet some things are truly worth saving — and your natural teeth are at the top of that list. Root canal treatment is one of the most effective ways to preserve a tooth that might otherwise be lost, allowing you to keep your natural smile, maintain proper chewing function, and avoid the need for more extensive dental work down the road.
Understanding Tooth Anatomy
Inside each tooth is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue, and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during development. The pulp extends from the crown of your tooth to the tip of the roots, where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root. When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed — due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures, or a crack in the tooth — root canal treatment is needed to save the tooth.
Myths & Facts About Root Canal Treatment
That may have been the case decades ago, but with modern technology and anesthetics, you won't experience any more pain than if you went to have a cavity filled. Most patients report that the procedure itself is comfortable, and that the relief from the pre-treatment toothache is immediate.
Saving your natural tooth, if possible, is always the best option. Replacing a tooth with a bridge or implant requires more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to neighboring teeth and supporting tissue. Nothing looks, feels, or functions like your natural tooth.
When a root canal treatment is performed, the pulp from inside of the tooth is removed. The roots of the tooth are not removed. The canals are cleaned, shaped, and sealed — the tooth structure itself remains intact.
While a throbbing toothache typically is a telltale sign of a need for root canal treatment, there are times a tooth can require root canal treatment when there is no pain present. Endodontists are specially trained to test a tooth to see if the pulp has been infected or damaged. If this is the case, a root canal would be necessary to save the tooth.
Information on this page is directly sourced from the American Association of Endodontics.
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Dr. Campbell and our team are here to make your treatment as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Schedule Your VisitQuick Facts
- Saves your natural tooth
- Modern anesthetics = minimal discomfort
- Usually completed in 1–2 visits
- High long-term success rate
- Prevents spread of infection