What is a root canal?

Learn how long a root canal takes and what factors may affect the treatment timeline A root canal , also referred to as endodontic treatment, is a dental procedure which aims to treat or remove the damaged and diseased soft tissue from within an infected tooth. The soft tissue inside your tooth is called pulp—a living tissue consisting of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues. Every tooth has a pulp that is located in the pulp chamber extending to the canal roots of a tooth. The pulp feeds the tooth and keeps it and the roots healthy. It is the connection path to the gums and bones. When an infection or inflammation begins to compromise the pulp, it will affect the entire pulp tissue. If not treated with a root canal, the infection can spread down to the roots and cause the formation of a pocket of pus at the tooth’s root, known as a dental abscess . This is a very serious infection and can spread to other teeth and other parts of the body. Common r...