Root Canals (Endodontics)
What is root canal treatment?
When a tooth becomes
injured, cracked or decayed, the damage can spread to the
inside of the tooth, which contains living pulp tissue. When this
happens, it
is necessary to make an opening in the tooth and cleaning out the
infected tissue
inside the tooth. The space inside the tooth is then filled and the
opening
sealed. The tooth is frozen while the root canal treatment is being
done.
How is a tooth that has had root canal treatment different?
In general, teeth
that have had root canal treatment can stay as healthy and
last as long as other teeth. In most cases, it would be difficult for
you to
feel or see the difference. Teeth that have had root canal treatment,
can tend
to break if they have a large filling, so a crown or cap may be
necessary to
protect the tooth from further damage.

