Root canals

What are they?

The root of the tooth contains a channel or canal in which the tooth nerve sits surrounded by pulp. If the tooth becomes badly infected or decayed, the pulp can also become infected and needs to be removed. This is what a root canal procedure entails.

What is the procedure?

The tooth is first X-rayed to determine the exact path and size of the roots. Then a small hole is drilled in the tooth and the infected pulp is scraped and washed out. The tooth is then filled with a rubber material called gutta percha and a conventional filling added. You will probably experience some discomfort for a couple of days after the procedure.

Pros

• Aleviates the pain fairly painlessly
• Avoids a tooth extraction

Cons

• The infection can spread to the gum if it's not cleaned out properly