The purpose of the root canal procedure is to rid a tooth of infection. Once the bacteria is all cleared, the tooth is then sealed with a filling or crown to prevent infection reoccurring.

The root of a tooth isn’t visible in the mouth. It sits below the visible part of tooth – known as the crown – and anchors the tooth in position. The canal system, of which a single tooth can have more than one, contains dental pulp, which consists of soft tissue, nerves and blood vessels.

If bacteria infects the pulp, it will begin to die and make your tooth painful. Additionally, over time, your tooth could darken in colour and, in serious cases, a dental abscess may form. During the early stages of infection, pain may be minimal, or even non existent, but the longer you leave the infection to spread through the root canal system, the more painful it will become.

Left unattended, the bacterial infection can spread to a degree that the tooth can’t be saved and will need to be removed. Treating an infected root canal system to save the tooth is much preferable to just having it removed because it will maintain your natural smile and won’t effect your sensation, chewing and biting force.