What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a dental procedure used to repair and save a tooth that has become badly decayed, damaged, or infected. The procedure treats infection or damage within the pulp of the tooth. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, which can become infected or inflamed because of deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a single tooth, large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or even trauma to the face.
When pulp is damaged, it breaks down, and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. Bacteria and other dying pulp remnants can cause an infection or abscess, which is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the end of a tooth’s root. An infection in the root canal is serious and can cause swelling that may spread to other areas of the face, neck, or head, bone loss around the tip of the root, and drainage problems extending outward from the root
The root canal procedure involves removing the infected pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the tooth, and then filling and sealing it to prevent further issues.
