Root Canal Therapy is the prescribed treatment
when the pulp (nerve) of the tooth has become diseased. This is usually
because of deep tooth decay or trauma to the tooth. When the pulp becomes
diseased, some form of discomfort is usually present. This may be in the
form of temperature or pressure sensitivity or in the form of toothache pain.
In either case, to perform a root canal, the tooth is made numb with local
anesthetic (novocaine). The decay is removed from the tooth, and the
hollow root canals are comfortably cleaned and sealed, removing the diseased
pulp in the process. While root canals have a reputation for being
uncomfortable, with modern techniques, root canals are virtually always
painless. With root canal therapy, teeth that would otherwise have to be
extracted can be saved. In most cases, a tooth that has had a root canal
needs to be restored with a FULL CROWN to protect it against the strong forces
of chewing.
