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What happens during root canal therapy?

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Dentistry — dentistry The practice of dentistry involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral disease, as well as correcting deformities of the jaws, teeth, and oral cavity.

Root canal therapy is a procedure performed within the field of endodontics to treat a tooth that has been severely damaged by decay or cracking, which risks a dangerous infection of the pulp.12

During the operation, which is conducted under local anesthesia, the diseased dental pulp—the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels—is removed from the center of the tooth. Once the pulp is extracted, the space is cleaned and replaced with a filling material.12

Although the tooth is considered dead after the pulp is removed, it remains nourished by blood vessels in the jaw, and the fibers securing the tooth to the jawbone stay alive. Preserving the natural tooth is highly beneficial, as it maintains the integrity of the dental arch and can withstand significantly more pressure than artificial alternatives.1