Root Canal Treatment: What It Is, Why It's Done and What Happens
Being told that you may need a root canal usually raises the same three questions: what is it, why is it being recommended, and what actually happens? This article answers those three, then points you to where the rest is covered.
What a root canal is
A root canal is a procedure that removes infected pulp from inside the tooth. The dentist then cleans and seals the canals to prevent further damage and save the tooth (Cleveland Clinic).
Why a dentist may recommend one
You might need root canal treatment if bacteria reach the pulp and cause pain or inflammation (Cleveland Clinic). A deep cavity and a cracked tooth are two examples of how that can happen (American Association of Endodontists).
Whether that is what is going on in your own tooth is a separate question from what the treatment involves. If you are still working that out, read about signs that the problem may be inside the tooth.
What generally happens
What follows is a general description of the treatment, not a promise of exactly what will happen in any particular case or at any particular practice.
These are the general steps a dentist or endodontist takes. They numb the area with anesthesia, place cotton or a dental dam to keep the area clean and dry, and create a small hole in the tooth's crown to reach the pulp. From there, the infected pulp is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and disinfected, the empty space is filled with a rubbery dental material called gutta-percha, and the tooth is sealed with a temporary filling (Cleveland Clinic).
After the temporary filling, a permanent crown may follow, usually at a later visit, to protect the tooth and restore the bite. You may rest briefly in the office after the procedure (Cleveland Clinic).
Comfort, recovery and cost are a subject of their own, covered in what recovery, comfort and cost look like.
The next step
Our office is at 147 Main St, 2nd Floor, Lodi, NJ 07644, and Dr. Steven Liao is our dentist. Our services page lists pulpal therapy (nerve therapy). If you want to take the next step, start at our first-visit page.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. "Root Canal." Updated 2025-07-03. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21759-root-canal
- American Association of Endodontists. "Root Canal Explained." https://www.aae.org/patients/root-canal-treatment/what-is-a-root-canal/root-canal-explained/
