Overview of root canal treatment

Root canal is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth instead of removing it. The term "root canal" comes from cleaning out the canals inside a tooth's root.

Decades ago, root canal treatments often were painful. With dental advances and numbing medicine known as a local anesthetic, most people now feel little or no pain during a root canal. In fact, it's probably more painful living with a decayed tooth.

Options other than a root canal include removing the damaged tooth with no more treatment or removing and replacing the tooth with a dental implant, bridge or removable partial denture.