Inside a tooth is a fine space called the root canal.  The root canal contains the dental pulp which consists of nerves and blood vessels.  If the dental pulp becomes diseased or dies, a toothache or an abscess may occur. In the past these problem teeth were extracted, but now your dentist can offer you root canal treatment to care for these teeth. 

The dentist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. After root canal treatment, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

​Root canal treatment can often be performed in one or two visits and involves the following steps:

If the root canals are able to be fully cleaned and sealed and the tooth properly restored, then treatment has a very high success rate.
Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed where an infection is present.

You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have had it restored by your dentist. The unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture, so you should see your dentist for a full restoration as soon as possible. Otherwise, you need only practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings.
Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or the pain continues. Occasionally, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. Often when this occurs, redoing the endodontic procedure can save the tooth.

​Local anesthetic and modern painkillers are used to provide comfortable treatment.  Usually painful symptoms improve once treatment is started. 
Pain or discomfort may occur between appointments due to onging tenderness of the tissue around the tooth or a flare up of an abscess or a hairline crack in the root.

​The dentist will be able to give you an estimate after a thorough examination. The cost will depend on the difficulty and the time spent treating the tooth.