A root canal treatment involves removing disease nerve tissue from inside the tooth. Root canals are a common alternative to dental extractions.
Most likely a severe cavity has caused the tooth’s internal tissue to become infected. Cavities start off slow, but once they reach the inner tissues they begin to spread faster. The tooth can become abscessed (pus formation) and cause swelling in the face and neck. If no action is taken at this stage in a tooth’s infection, the tooth will eventually be lost in addition to bone loss and tissue infection in the adjacent regions.
Teeth that have been cracked or shattered may also need the root canal treatment. You can learn more about cracked teeth and root canal treatments here.
We’ve gone over the root canal treatment, but other variations of the treatment are available and may be more suitable depending on the situation. Learn more about them below.
