Root canal therapy can save teeth whose pulp is diseased or damaged.

Various conditions damage pulp such as infection-causing bacteria, an injury or fracture to a tooth, or periodontal disease. When infection due to these conditions occur, an abscess forms at the root end of the tooth. Root canal therapy must then be performed to alleviate the pain, cure the infection, and save the tooth. Typically, two visits are required to complete this procedure during which the following is done: The diseased pulp is removed through a small opening in the crown of the tooth, the pulp chamber and root canals are cleaned, disinfected, medicated, and sealed with a temporary filling and a crown is applied to protect the tooth from breakage.

90% of all root canal-filled teeth will last as long as your other remaining natural teeth. While these teeth become “non-vital” (because the pulp has been removed) they still receive nourishment from the outer tissues. Retaining your natural teeth is always better than losing them or replacing them with artificial ones. Root canal therapy is the most common and effective procedure for saving damaged or diseased teeth.