Root canal treatment involves treating the tissues inside your teeth which have gotten infected. Root canal therapy (endodontics) focuses on the inside of your tooth. Inside every tooth is a hollow space occupied by your tooth pulp, which helps teeth detect heat & cold, & is essentially what keeps a tooth “alive.” A tooth needs a root canal if your tooth pulp becomes infected or dies. Infections inside of a tooth happen when tooth decay extends deep enough to reach the tooth pulp. If the decay-causing bacteria infect the pulp, then the pulp needs to be removed. Root canal treatment involves creating a small opening in a tooth, removing the dead or infected pulp through that opening, & then resealing the tooth. In most cases, a root canal procedure removes enough tooth material that a dental crown is needed to restore your tooth. Fillings can work in milder cases, but only for your front teeth. A filling cannot withstand enough pressure to hold together a molar that has undergone a root canal.
Once you have your permanent restoration, you should take care of your tooth just like all your others. Though a crown or filling will provide your tooth with superior strength & structural support, rigorous oral hygiene is still necessary to ensure a root canal’s success.