Endodontic Treatment (Root Canal)

Endodontic (root canal) treatments are performed to repair and save teeth that are badly decayed and infected. If left untreated, the infection from one tooth can spread to the surrounding teeth and bone causing abscess, swelling and/or tooth loss. A tooth that requires a root canal can have different ranges of pain, from none to severe pain and swelling.

Once a tooth is diagnosed to require a root canal procedure, an antibiotic is prescribed to control the infection and eliminate pain. This is not the complete treatment. If the root canal is not performed, after the completion of the prescribed regiment, the infection tends to return with worse pain than before.

Once a tooth has had endodontic treatment, it becomes very brittle. A crown is placed over the tooth in order to reinforce and protect it. If left unprotected, the tooth will eventually fracture off, and re-infection of the roots and surrounding tissues may occur.