A root canal treatment is the process of removing the infected, injured or dead pulp from a tooth. The pulp is the soft tissue containing the nerves and blood vessels running through the center of the tooth. Severe damage to a tooth may be the result of a deep cavity, gum disease, or an injury. To save the tooth, a root canal procedure is performed by removing the nerve and pulp, and capping the tooth..

Pulp becomes damaged and infection spreads to the bone and tissues. An abscess forms at the root.

After the affected tooth has been numbed, the pulp is removed and the chamber and roots are cleaned out, enlarged, and shaped.

Once the tooth is clean and free of infection, the pulp chamber and root canals are filled with a rubberlike material, and the tooth is filled.

Sometimes the tooth may also need to be crowned. Some crowns may need a post and core (shown).

What are bridges and crowns?

A bridge is an artificial substitute that replaces one or more of your natural teeth. It is permanently anchored to your neighboring natural teeth (or dental implants). A crown, often called a cap, is an artificial covering for the visible part of your tooth. Crowns are generally made of porcelain or metal alloys. You may need a crown if you have a had a root canal treatment, have large fillings in a tooth, a broken tooth, or severely stained, misshapen, or misaligned teeth. A crown covers part or all of the visible portion of the tooth and protects it from further damage.

Your dentist may recommend a fixed partial denture, or bridge, if you have one or more missing teeth.
 
 
 

To replace a lost tooth with bridgework, the teeth on either side of the missing one are prepared for crowns.

The replacement tooth and two crowns are constructed and placed in the mouth as one unit that is permanently cemented to your healthy neighboring teeth.

The procedure is often called "crown and bridge" treatment and is not removable.

You may need a crown if you have a broken, weak, or misaligned tooth. Your dentist sculpts and shapes your damaged tooth to make room for the crown.

This process leaves your tooth looking like a post or peg. A crown covers part or all of the visible portion of your tooth and protects it from further damage.