What is a Root Canal
This is a phrase for therapy aimed at removing diseased pulp within a
tooth and replacing is with an inert filling material
The pulp which lies in the pulp chamber, contains nerves lymph and blood
vessels and is located deep within each tooth under layers of enamel and
dentin. Depending on the size of the tooth, there may be anywhere from
one to four root canals per tooth. The pulp or nerve may become
damaged in a number of ways:
- Decay may destroy the enamel and dentincreating a passage for bacteria to travel from the mouth to the pulp.
- Trauma or striking the tooth can cause nerve damage that will kill the pulp. In some cases, pain or tooth discoloration can occur years after the trauma.