Root Canals
Root canals are necessary when decay becomes so deep in the tooth structure that it actually touches the nerve or the tooth suffers from some kind of trauma. A root canal is done by going into the nerve space and removing the tissue inside the canal. After each canal is cleaned and sterilized they are filled with a rubber material called gutta percha, which flows into the canals and seals them off. Most root canal teeth need crowns shortly after the procedure because once the root canal is done the tooth can become weak and break.