What is a root canal, and when do you need one?

What is a root canal?

Root canal treatment (endodontic treatment) removes inflamed or infected tissue from inside the tooth, then cleans, disinfects and seals the canals in the roots. The aim is to stop pain and infection while keeping your natural tooth instead of removing it.

Inside every tooth is soft tissue called the pulp, which holds the nerve and blood vessels. If it becomes inflamed from deep decay, a crack or an old large filling, it cannot heal on its own.

What are the signs you need a root canal?

The most common signs are pain that lingers after something hot or cold, pain that wakes you at night, pain when you bite, and swelling or a bump on the gum near the tooth. Some cases have no symptoms and only show on an X-ray.

• Pain that lingers after hot or cold
• Pain that wakes you at night
• Pain when biting
• Swelling or a bump on the gum
• A tooth that has turned darker

What happens during a root canal?

The tooth is numbed, a small opening is made in the top, and the canals are found, cleaned and disinfected under the microscope, then filled and sealed. The tooth is then closed with a filling and may later need a crown.

Why use a microscope for a root canal?

Because canals are finer than a hair, and some teeth hide an extra canal that is easy to miss, such as the fourth canal (MB2) in upper molars. Magnification helps find it and spot fine cracks.

Is extraction better than a root canal?

When a tooth can be treated, keeping it is the first choice in most cases. Extraction leaves a gap that usually needs an implant or bridge to replace it.

Other questions patients ask

How long does a root canal take?

Most cases take one or two visits, depending on the number of canals and how inflamed the tooth is.

Can I need a root canal without pain?

Yes. Sometimes the nerve has died without pain and the infection only shows on an X-ray.