Occassionally, the nerve inside a tooth gets infected.  Symptoms can range from pain and swelling to darkening of the tooth with mild or no discomfort.  With a dental procedure called root canal therapy you may save that tooth. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth. It runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don’t remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Then your dentist places a crown over the tooth to help strengthen it.

Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile!