Root Canals
When the nerve of a tooth becomes infected, root canal therapy is the only way to save the tooth.  A tooth can become abscessed as a result of deep decay, a cracked tooth, or trauma to the tooth.  The only alternative to root canal therapy is to have the tooth removed.

During root canal therapy, the unhealthy nerve is removed and medication is placed in the tooth to treat the bacterial abscess (infection).  After the infection is removed and treated, a filling is placed in the roots where the unhealthy nerve was.

A tooth that has undergone root canal therapy is more brittle and must be crowned to give the tooth sufficient strength.

For more information, please visit:

The American Dental Association:
- Frequently Asked Questions about Root Canals

Web Md:
- Dental Health - Root Canals