Root canal therapy is a treatment option for patients who have suffered from severe decay or injury that compromises the internal tooth structure. Once decay and bacteria reach the inside of the tooth, this leads to infection, toothache, swelling, and sometimes a darkening appearance of the tooth.
In order to save the tooth and eliminate pain from the infection, the internal contents of the tooth must be removed and the canals cleaned and sealed. While this process may sound invasive or frightening, root canals are performed under sufficient anesthetic so that pain and discomfort are not experienced. Additionally, they are relatively common and not to be afraid of! In fact, they are incredible procedures that immediately begin working to rid the patient of pain and save the tooth from further damage.