What is a Root Canal?

Root canal treatment is the process of cleaning out the infected nerves (pulp) from a dead or dying tooth, allowing you to keep the tooth and hence retain the structure of your bone while being freed from any pain or irritation associated with that tooth.

There are many symptoms that are indicative of when a root canal is needed, which vary from person to person. The most common indication of a dying tooth is an abscess at the apex of the root. Abscesses can only be detected with an x-ray. In the absence of an abscess, there are other tests that can be done to determine whether a root canal is needed to eliminate pain in a tooth.