Getting started on root canal treatment

A root canal usually is done by a general dentist or a specialist called an endodontist. The root canal usually takes one or two visits. Sometimes more visits are needed because some teeth are harder to treat.

First, you have dental X-rays to check the amount of damage to your tooth. You also get numbing medicine to control pain during the procedure. A rubberlike sheet called a dental dam is placed in your mouth around the tooth to keep the tooth clean, protected and free of saliva. Your dentist or endodontist removes the decay and makes an opening through the crown of the tooth to get to the pulp chamber. The infected or diseased pulp is removed using small dental instruments.