Long standing infections of the tooth in many instances could only be treated with root canal treatment. Root canal treatment is the process of removing an infected nerve, cleaning and filling the canals.

Research has shown that root canal treated teeth ought to be capped within three months of completion for most cases. The purpose of crowning a root canal treated tooth is to prevent it from future fractures.

Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp (soft tissue inside your teeth containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue) becomes inflamed or diseased. During root canal treatment, your dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in treating the insides of teeth) removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed. If the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result, and your tooth may have to be removed.

Root canal treatment is a complicated and sensitive procedure. If done well, root canal treated teeth last many years and feel the same as any other teeth, but if rushed and carried out without the due diligence and precision they would lead to infections and subsequent extraction of the tooth.