A root canal treatment, which is also referred to as an endodontic treatment, is a common dental procedure that is used by dentists to remove diseased or dead nerve tissue from inside a tooth.

The nerve tissue is located in the pulp of the tooth, which is a soft part of the tooth that begins at the crown of the tooth and goes all the way down to the root. In the past, the disease was likely to spread to the tooth and jaw, causing infection; this usually led to the tooth being removed. Presently, dentists can often recognize that a nerve is diseased before it has a chance to infect the tooth. Following discovery of this diseased nerve, the dentist can perform a root canal to remove the pulp, including the damaged nerve.

The dentist will drill a small hole into the tooth, and then remove the pulp. The root canal is then thoroughly cleansed and re-shaped so the hole can be filled. Once the cleaning is completed, the dentist will sometimes use an antiseptic to kill any remaining germs. If the infection has spread too far to be killed by this point, the dentist may administer medicine to handle the infection and/or leave the hole open for a few days so it has a chance to drain. Following this, the root canal and pulp cavity will be filled and sealed. The last step is the placement of a crown over the tooth to give it extra strength and so it matches the rest of the teeth. This whole procedure involves little to no pain, and it takes anywhere from one to three visits.

Dr. Jill Ombrello and Dr. Michael Rosellini, Dallas family and cosmetic dentists, offer stress-free dentistry, utilizing high-tech tools and procedures to avoid pain and create a comfortable situation for their patients.