Endodontic therapy, sometimes called root canal therapy, is a dental procedure used to save a tooth that has been decayed or injured. The procedure entails extracting the pulp—the soft interior of the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels—that is infected or damaged. The root canal is carefully cleaned, sanitized, and sealed once the infected pulp has been eliminated to stop any additional infection.

When a tooth’s pulp becomes infected due to extensive decay, several dental treatments on the same tooth, or trauma, root canal therapy is absolutely necessary. Without treatment, the infection may result in excruciating pain, the development of an abscess, and, eventually, tooth loss. Root canal therapy allows the tooth to be saved and functionally restored, reducing pain and assuring a long-lasting result.