What is a root canal and why are they sometimes needed?
When the nerve and blood vessel inside a tooth become injured through trauma or decay, an infection (abscess) or pain (pulpitis) can result. A root canal is a procedure that allows your dentist to save a tooth that otherwise would need to be extracted due to pain or infection. Your dentist will anesthetize (numb) the area and clean the canals that house the pulp tissue (nerve and blood vessel). After cleaning the canal a filling is placed where the pulp used to exist.
