

| Treatments |
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| Cosmetic Dentistry |
| General Dentistry |
| Cosmetic Treatments |
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A root canal is the space within the root of a tooth. It is part of a naturally occurring space within a tooth that consists of the pulp chamber, the main canal(s) and more intricate anatomical branches that may connect the root canals to each other or to the surface of the root. Root canal is also a colloquial term for a dental operation, endodontic therapy, wherein the pulp is cleaned out, the space disinfected and then filled. |
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Endodontic therapy is a sequence of treatment for the pulp of a tooth whose end result is the elimination of infection and protection of the decontaminated tooth from future microbial invasion. Although this set of procedures is commonly referred to as a root canal, this term is imprecise. Although the procedure is relatively painless when done properly, the root canal remains the stereotypical fearsome dental operation.
In the situation that a tooth is considered so threatened (because of decay, cracking, etc.) that future infection is considered likely or inevitable, a pulpectomy, removal of the pulp tissue, is advisable to prevent such infection. Usually, some inflammation and/or infection is already present within or below the tooth. To cure the infection and save the tooth, the dentist drills into the pulp chamber and removes the infected pulp by scraping it out of the root canals. |