What is root canal treatment and when is it needed?
It is the cleaning and filling of the inside of the tooth when the nerve is infected or badly inflamed. It is considered after a deep cavity, a knock or an abscess.
Root canal treatment
Inside every tooth is the pulp, often called the nerve, made up of blood vessels and nerve fibres. When a deep cavity, a fracture or a knock reaches this pulp, it can become irreversibly inflamed or infected.
Root canal treatment, also called endodontic treatment, consists of removing this pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the root canals, then filling them with a sealing material. The tooth stays in place and continues to do its job.
Some signs can point to it: spontaneous pain or pain at night, sensitivity to heat that lingers, pain when chewing, a tooth that darkens, a swollen gum or a small spot on the gum. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all and the problem is revealed by an X-ray.
Only a clinical examination with an X-ray allows the dentist to confirm whether root canal treatment is needed, or whether simpler treatment is enough.
This is a general answer. Only a consultation at the practice can tell what suits your situation.