Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth (the root canal system).
The infection is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and invade the tooth. This can happen after:
- tooth decay
- leaky fillings
- damage to teeth as a result of trauma, such as a fall
A tooth is made up of two parts. The crown is the top part of the tooth that’s visible in the mouth. The root extends into the bone of the jaw, anchoring the tooth in position. Leaving the infected tooth in your mouth may make it worse. There may also be less chance of the working if the infection within your tooth becomes established. Your tooth then appears to have healed, but the infection has in fact spread through the root canal system.