AS ENDODONTISTS, WE often say that saving teeth is what we do, but what exactly does that mean? A tooth that becomes infected or inflamed due to injury, decay, or repeated dental procedures needs root canal treatment to save it, because otherwise the only way to stop the infection from getting worse would be to pull the tooth.
Root canal treatment involves removing the infected or inflamed pulp, carefully cleaning and disinfecting the inside of the tooth, and then filling and sealing it so that no more bacteria will be able to get in. Then the tooth is restored with a crown or filling to protect it and it will keep working just like a regular tooth.
False teeth might have come a long way over the years, but there is still no replacement as good as our own natural teeth, both at matching the rest of our smiles and doing the important work of chewing food and helping us speak clearly. A tooth that has had endodontic treatment can last a lifetime with proper care.
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