What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is a procedure to save a tooth when the nerve and soft tissue inside it (the pulp) have become inflamed or infected. The damaged pulp is removed, the root canals are cleaned and sealed, and the tooth is then restored so it can keep working.
Without treatment, an infected tooth may need to be removed. Root canal treatment gives you the option of keeping it where that is clinically appropriate.
When might root canal treatment be recommended?
Your dentist may recommend root canal treatment if a tooth is affected by:
- Deep tooth decay
- Dental trauma or injury
- Infection inside the tooth
- A crack or other damage that has reached the pulp
Some people come in because of severe tooth pain. Others find out at a routine examination or from an X-ray. Not every painful tooth needs a root canal, so an examination always comes first.
Experience in endodontics
Our principal dentist, Dr Dianne Haddad-Ferraro, has a particular interest in endodontics, the area of dentistry that covers root canal treatment. She has held roles with the Australian Society of Endodontology (SA).
