If tooth decay becomes very advanced or bacteria is otherwise able to penetrate the core of a tooth, the dental pulp can become inflamed or infected. This puts the patient at risk of developing a painful abscess or losing the tooth.

The sooner you see your dentist, the more likely they’ll be able to save your tooth. If your dentist diagnoses an infection of the dental pulp, they will recommend a procedure called root canal therapy.

Under local anaesthetic, your dentist will remove all the infected pulp and place a temporary filling in the gap. At a follow-up appointment, your dentist will check the infection is gone before permanently filling and sealing the tooth. Finally, your dentist will fit a crown to protect your newly repaired tooth.

Root canal therapy may also be necessary following significant trauma to a tooth, even if there is no infection present. In these cases, the intention is to prevent an infection, rather than treat one.

Root canal treatment is a common procedure and patients experience no more discomfort than a normal filling.