Family Dental Services

Root canal therapy can save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. When decay begins, it starts in the outer layer of the tooth and advances into the inner layer. The inner layer is softer which allows the cavity to spread faster. If the decay spreads to the nerve of the tooth, the nerve gets irritated and damaged, often resulting in pain and possibly even infection. Root canal therapy may be used to remove the damaged nerve tissue and clean the area. The tooth will then be sealed off to prevent future damage to the tooth. People often associate root canals with pain, when the pain is really coming from the irritated nerve of the tooth.