What is a root canal?

A root canal (endodontic therapy) is a dental procedure which repairs infected or badly damaged teeth. If you have a deep cavity that needs treatment or a cracked tooth, infection can enter into the tooth pulp. The tooth pulp is the innermost layer of your tooth made up of various nerves and blood vessels, so infection can be very painful. We call this treatment a "root canal" because during the procedure, Dr. Sakellis will use special dental instruments to remove the infected tooth pulp and disinfect the canals within your tooth's roots. Once she has removed the infected tooth pulp, she will fill the canal with a flexible material called gutta-percha and restore your tooth with a crown for protection.