ADA Home Page
Catalog | Find a Dentist | Seal Program | Contact  
 
Dental Professionals Your Oral Health The ADA
Animations and Games
Careers
Students and Educators
Espanol
Events
Manage Your Oral Health
Media
Topics and Resources
A-Z TOPICS
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
HISTORY OF DENTISTRY
ORAL HEALTH LINKS

Oral Health Topics A–Z

Root Canal (Endodontic) Treatment

 
  Overview
  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  Additional Resources
 


Overview

Once upon a time, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you'd probably lose that tooth. Today, with a special dental procedure called a root canal therapy you may save that tooth. Inside each tooth is the pulp which provides nutrients and nerves to the tooth, it runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you don't remove it, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Then your dentist places a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger.

Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile!


Frequently Asked Questions

Return to Top


Additional Resources

Animations

For the Dental Patient

Return to Top

Please note: The ADA does not provide specific answers to individual questions about fees, dental problems, conditions, diagnoses, treatments or proposed treatments, or requests for research. Information about dental referrals, complaints and a variety of dental procedures may be found here. You can also refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to common questions.

Quick Links
Gum Disease
Tooth Decay
Copyright 1995-2008 American Dental Association.
Reproduction or republication strictly prohibited without prior written permission.
See Privacy Policy (Updated 03/14/05) and Terms of Use for further legal information.
Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled. Link opens in separate window.
Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.
Member Only Content Member only content.