What Should I Know Before Getting a Root Canal?

Root canal therapy is generally performed when a cavity is so deep that is causes pain and infection inside a tooth. Teeth are made up of three layers. The outer two are hard and bony, the deepest, called the dental pulp is is comprised of blood vessels and nerves. A root canal is a procedure where the dentist drills through the outer two layers and exposes and removes the soft innermost layer and replaces it with a root filling. This treatment is done to attempt... more

Root canal therapy has close to a 97% success rate these days. Compared to 40 years ago, the success rate was probably closer to 60% for ten years. Newer techniques in sterilization, cleansing, filling, finding canals and diagnosis have made this procedure more predictable. That said, implants are also becoming more predictable as well. In fact, they are probably about the same level of success as root canals in competent hands. Once a root canal is completed, the tooth will most likely... more

What is root canal treatment? Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (known as the pulp) is infected through decay or injury. If the pulp becomes infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth. This may eventually lead to an abscess. If root canal treatment (RCT) is not carried out, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out. The aim of the treatment is to remove all... more