Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, involves the removal of dental pulp in which painful inflammation takes place.
Dental pulp is a living, innervated and bloody tissue inside the tooth. Dentine and dental enamel are a barrier that prevents microbes from entering the pulp. Untreated caries causes this barrier to weaken and crumble, allowing bacteria to reach the inside of the tooth.
Pulp infection in turn leads to swelling, and when this sensitive tissue ceases to fit within the tooth chamber, considerable pain can ensue. This pain is typically described as sharp and piercing, although for some patients it can be dull and pulsating. It is often described as feeling worse at night and is typically what drives the patient to visit the dentist.
Another cause can be mechanical damage to the tooth. In this case, tooth rupture or chipping allows bacteria to reach the dental pulp. Endodontic treatment is carried out when the tooth is not completely damaged, but the ongoing inflammatory process of the pulp is irreversible. Whether or not a tooth qualifies for root canal treatment is determined by your dentist. This procedure can be performed on both adults and children.