Sometimes before a filling, crown or bridge can be placed, a root canal treatment, also known as endodontics, is required. This is needed when the pulp tissues in the tooth have become infected or inflamed.
Root fillings are therefore sometimes needed before a crown, bridge or filling is done to ensure a healthy base for that treatment.
Root filling a tooth involves the removal of the infected pulp tissues from the canals of a tooth by gently and systematically filing and then flushing the debris out with an antibacterial solution. The canals are measured carefully and then filled, prior to restoring. There would be 2 X-rays needed with this treatment – one before to assess the number and shape of the canals and one after to check the filling.