A root canal is a process in which the nerve and pulp are removed from an infected tooth, then it's cleaned out. Without treatment, infection will form around your mouth that can lead to abscesses. Root canal is the natural cavity of a tooth, containing its nerve. What seems like an empty space within your teeth may be full of nerves - don't forget to brush those! Having a tooth with or without a nerve will not affect the day-to-day functioning of your teeth. The only function is feeling hot, cold and other sensations.

A tooth with an infection will start to decay and the roots can become infected. When this happens, pus or other decayed debris may build up near your gum line as well as in between the root canal of a tooth's narrow opening. The pain is usually what alerts you that there might be something wrong with one of these teeth so it’s important to keep your dental appointments! Other symptoms may include swelling that can spread to the face, neck, and head, as well as bone loss around the tip of the root. A tooth can also begin to exhibit drainage with the surrounding gum becoming inflamed. A hole in a tooth is possible, leading to infected gums or skin further downstream from the site of teeth decay.

A tooth's nerve and pulp can become infected due to various dental procedures or trauma of the face or teeth. If left untreated, it could lead to bigger problems such as an abscessed tooth which is a serious infection in the jaw bone that may need surgery if not treated quickly enough.

Signs that you may need a root canal can include severe toothache, usually when chewing. You might suffer from prolonged sensitivity when teeth are exposed to hot or cold temperatures. The infected tooth may darken in colour. You may also experience tenderness and swelling in the gum area surrounding the infected tooth, and get a persistent pimple on the gums.

A root canal may require one or more visits to the dentist. An x-ray will be taken to see the shape of the root canals and determine if there are any signs of infection. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area surrounding the tooth and make the patient more comfortable. A sheet of rubber will be placed around the tooth (a rubber dam) to prevent the area becoming wet from saliva. A hole will then be drilled into the infected tooth. The dentist will then remove the pulp along with bacteria, the decayed nerve tissue and any debris. Root canal files are then used to clean the canal. Water or sodium hypochlorite is used to flush away the debris. Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it is sealed. There are a few different schools of thought about when to seal the tooth. Some dentists may choose to wait and seal your tooth in seven days if you have an infection, while others will do it on the same day as cleaning. If they haven't completed root canal work during that appointment, then some temporary filling comes into play until next time around! The tooth is filled with a sealer paste and gutta percha rubber compound, which will help protect the area from future infection. A filling to cover up any remaining hole in your teeth created at the beginning of treatment may also be placed before you leave. Finally it's time for restoration; all that remains now are minor cosmetic changes like replacing what little was removed or having an artificial crown put on top of your natural one so as not to risk breakage later down the road when chewing becomes more vigorous again after healing has taken place.

Root canals do have the reputation of being painful, however most people find them no more painful than having a filling placed.

The tooth may feel sensitive for the first few days due to tissue inflammation, especially if there was pain or infection prior to the procedure. Most patients find they can return to normal the next day, but if you do feel discomfort you can use normal pain medication such as Ibuprofen to help. Until the permanent filling is in place and/or the crown and the full procedure complete, avoid chewing on the tooth being repaired. This will help avoid further infection or the risk of the tooth breaking before it can be fully restored. Following a root canal you can brush and floss as you regularly would and see your dentist for check-ups as normal.

Very rarely there can be complications following a root canal. This could be a result of having more than one hole or crack in your tooth that wasn’t treated in the first procedure. It could also be down to the restoration not sealing the area completely, allowing bacteria to reinfect the tooth. If you do suffer complications, another root canal can be done. If it’s not possible to perform the procedure again, apicoectomy surgery can be tried. This is a minor surgery, also known as root end surgery, which removes the very tip of the tooth’s root.