Student Health Center

Student Emergency Dental Patient Services Education

A tooth receives nutrition from the pulp (1). The pulp is encased in the middle of the tooth and contains
a blood supply and nerve network. If the pulp is damaged in any way (2), it may become infected and form
an abcess (3). Root canal treatment may be recommended in this situation. Untreated, such a condition
could lead to loss of the tooth and a serious infection.
A series of appointments is usually required for root canal treatment. At the fi rst appointment, the
diseased pulp tissue must be completely removed (4). The tooth is cleaned out to eliminate the infectious
causing bacteria. At a subsequent appointment, the canal is completely fi lled and sealed (5). This is done
only after the canal is completely free of bacteria. In many cases, root canal treatment is less costly than
replacement with an artifi cial tooth. Proper home care of your teeth, along with dental checkups, may
prevent a situation that requires root canal treatment.