A root canal involves the removal of pulp, the soft tissue within a tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. After removal, the pulp chamber is cleaned and sealed. A root canal is used to treat a tooth with an infected or injured pulp.
Advice
People sometimes get nervous about a root canal, but there’s nothing to worry about, there’s no pain.
If you have dental anxieties, share it with the doctor.
Work out a signal with the dental team — maybe raising your hand — that you can do during the procedure if you need the dentist to pause.
Find a doctor with a gentle, friendly demeanor.
Look for a doctor who has performed many root canals and has the latest technology and equipment.
Stories
Root Canal
Something on an X-ray had indicated an infection at the root, and my jaw was trying to wall it off with calcification. We wanted to avoid bone loss so we did root canal. Read More
Claudia, female, 64, Massachusetts
Root Canal
I had a bad root in a top tooth and my dentist recommended a root canal. Read More
Dave, male, 60, New Jersey
Root Canal
My tooth had been hurting for a year, the dentist could not find any fractures or reason for the pain on X-rays, and a temporary cap (to repair any possible microfractures) failed to help. So I needed a root canal. Read More
Ken, male, 41, Massachusetts
Root Canal
I went to the dentist because I had extreme sensitivity in one of my back molars. My dentist examined the tooth and exposed some of the infected nerve tissue, which made the pain even worse. I was referred to an endodontist and was able to schedule the root canal for that evening. Read More
Katie, female, 27, New York
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