Root Canal

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Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that is used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth (root canal system).

The infection is usually caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and invade the tooth. This can happen after:

-Tooth decay

-leaking fillings

-damage to teeth as a result as trauma (e.g. fall)

The infection may eventually lead to an abscess. An abscess is an inflamed area in which pus collects and can cause swelling of the tissues around the tooth.

To treat the infection in the root canal – the bacteria needs to be removed.

This can be done by either removing the tooth called an extraction, this is sometimes the only option if there has been extensive loss of tooth structure or where the decay extends under the gum level, or attempting to save the tooth by removing the bacteria from the root canal system – called a root canal treatment or therapy.