Root canal therapy

Inside each tooth is the nerve, which provides nutrients and the sensation to your tooth. If bacteria enters the nerve chamber then this will kill the nerve tissues and your tooth will eventually become infected. With the dental procedure called root canal therapy, the tooth can be saved.

Some reasons that bacteria could reach the nerve chamber:

• Tooth fracture
• A cracked filling that has been left untreated
• Severe decay
• A blow to the tooth

Root canal therapy involves the careful removal of the infected nerve tissue and the cleaning, disinfection and sealing of the root canal to protect it. Root treated teeth are more brittle than a healthy tooth and usually have lost a lot of tooth structure, because of a fracture or a large filling. This makes these teeth significantly weaker and more likely to fracture. So it is prudent to place a crown to protect it and help make it stronger after the treatment is complete.