Dental health
Root canal treatment: when and how
Throbbing night pain can mean an inflamed nerve - early treatment saves the tooth from extraction.
When it is needed
When decay or a fracture reaches the pulp (nerve) and it becomes inflamed or dies. Signs: throbbing pain, lingering sensitivity to heat, or an abscess.
How it is done
The inflamed tissue is removed, the root canals are cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed, usually followed by a crown to protect the tooth from fracture.
Is it painful
With modern anaesthesia it feels like an ordinary filling. The real pain is in delaying treatment, not in the treatment itself.