When is the root canal treatment needed?
Inside the tooth, the pulp’s soft tissue contains the blood supply, by which the tooth gets its nutrients, and the nerve, by which the tooth senses hot and cold. RCT is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or the infection can have a variety of causes; deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, a crack or a chip in the tooth, a sudden blow to the tooth. The microorganisms may spread inside the tooth from the crown to the tip of the root in the jawbone, creating a build-up of pus which may eventually cause an abscess. This can be very painful and the teeth may become very sensitive to heat or cold. Normally the crown of the tooth will protect the pulp against infection, but once a tooth becomes damaged and infection spreads, it must be treated in order to avoid further damage, or the tooth must be removed altogether.
