Inside the tooth, underneath the white enamel is a hard layer called dentine and inside this lies the soft tissue known as pulp.  This contains the blood and nerve supply to the tooth.

The pulp runs all the ways from the crown of the tooth (the part you see in your mouth) to the very tip of the root of the tooth and connects the tooth to the other tissues surrounding it.  In babies and children the pulp is very important as it aids the tooth’s growth and development.

However, in adults the tooth can survive without the pulp as it continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.

Inflammation or infection of the pulp is a very common dental problem.  Symptoms of pulp damage can include pain, swelling and tenderness of the surrounding gums, sensitivity to hot and cold and discolouration of the tooth.  Very occasionally, there may be no symptoms at all.

Root canal treatments are carried out to relieve the pain of toothache caused by pulp inflammation or infection.  They are normally completed over two or three separate sessions.

Your dentist will remove the infected or inflamed dental pulp using specially designed instruments and materials.   They will carefully clean and shape the inside of the tooth to ensure all infection is removed.  It may be necessary to use an antibiotic and antiseptic dressing and to temporarily seal the tooth.  This measure ensures that any infection or inflammation will be addressed.  In some cases this treatment may be administered on several visits if the tooth is badly infected. 

Once your dentist is happy that the tooth is clean inside and free from infection and inflammation they will then seal the space left by the root canals.  Finally the restoration will be placed on your tooth.