Endodontic treatment — commonly known as a root canal — saves a severely injured, cracked, or decayed tooth when its pulp (the soft inner tissue inside the root canal) becomes inflamed or infected. Left untreated, this can lead to pain or a tooth abscess.
Treatment is usually completed in one or two office visits at our Turnersville, NJ practice, depending on the extent of infection. Once restored, the tooth functions like any other, and with good oral hygiene can last a lifetime.
You may need a root canal if you experience:
Sometimes an issue can exist with no warning signs — in these cases, a digital x-ray taken during a routine checkup will reveal the damage.
Treatment involves removing the diseased pulp and the tooth's nerve, then cleaning, medicating, and sealing the pulp chamber and root canal(s). A dental crown or other restorative treatment is then used to protect and strengthen the tooth.