Root canal treatment is needed if the nerve of a tooth becomes infected. When a tooth becomes infected the bacteria from the tooth can cause the nerve to die.
So what can cause the need for root canal therapy?

• Dental decay
• Injury or trauma
• Cracked or chipped teeth

These could all potentialy lead to a dental abscess where symptoms can range from a dull ache to a severe pain. If left untreated then this could result in the tooth ultimately being lost.
If you have any of the following warning signs then you may need root canal therapy

• Tooth sensitivity to either hot or cold
• Pain from a tooth
• Swelling of the face
• A bad taste in the mouth
• Tenderness when biting or eating
• Discolouration of the tooth

Visiting a dentist and having a dental x-ray will determine if you need root canal therapy as any sign of infection can be noticed on a dental x-ray.

Root canal treatment is very straight forward. It involves removing the infected part of the tissue, cleaning the root canals thoroughly and filling them to prevent further infection.

Many people are very wary of root canal therapy as they come with the idea that is very painful. However completed by a highly skilled dentist the treatment will be very comfortable for the patient. You will require local anaesthetic for this procedure so you will not feel any pain or discomfort