You do not need an extraction (removal of a tooth). Badly damaged teeth don’t always have to be removed. Your dentist can save your badly damaged tooth by doing a simple procedure called root canal treatment or therapy. Your natural teeth were meant to serve you for a life time. Removing the nerves/pulp of a painful tooth is what is referred to as root canal treatment.
Your tooth might need a root canal if:-
- It hurts when you bite down on it, touch it or push on it
- It is sensitive to heat
- It is sensitive to cold for more than a couple of seconds
- There is swelling near the tooth
- It is discolored (whether it hurts or not)
- It is broken
Length of Treatment
Root canal treatment can be done in one or more visits depending on the situation.
What is root canal treatment?
- First, your dentist will numb the area around the tooth.
- Then the root canals have to be measured using x-rays or a digital apex locator .Your dentist needs to know how long the canals are to make sure the entire canal is cleaned.
- The tooth is then dried and a root filling is placed. The tooth is non-vital (dead ) but remains in the mouth
- A permanent filling is then put to seal the cavity
A crown is normally recommended after the completion of the root canal treatment. The purpose of the crown is to prevent the tooth from breaking in the future.