Root Canals

Root canal treatment is needed for two main reasons. The first is infection, usually where decay from an untreated cavity in the tooth goes too far and reaches the nerve of the tooth. The second reason is damage to the nerve of the tooth that cannot be fixed. This can be from trauma, a fractured tooth, a tooth that has undergone several fillings over a period of time, or even procedures like preparing a tooth for a crown. All of these things can cause  inflammation in the nerve. Often the inflammation may heal itself. However, if it does not heal, the nerve will eventually die and get infected, resulting in the need for root canal treatment. If a necessary root canal treatment is not done, the tooth will need to be extracted.

The goal of root canal therapy is to attempt to save the tooth. This is done by treating the surrounding infection in the bone with antibiotic, removing the infected nerve, sterilizing the inside canal in the tooth, and filling the hollow canal with a rubber material. A filling is then placed and a crown is always recommended to protect the tooth from fracturing and needing to be extracted.

At Innovation Dental, initial root canal treatments on a tooth are done in our office however, there may be some situations where a trip to the specialist is necessary.

Learn more about family and cosmetic treatments at Innovation Dental Drive