Root canal treatment is performed when a person's tooth has become so severely decayed that it is affecting the root of the tooth. The root canal actually runs through the center of the tooth, and contains the pulp chamber, canals, blood vessels, and nerve branches. The term root canal can be used to refer to the actual root canal of the tooth, or to the endodontic treatment that is performed when the root canal is infected.

The root canal can become infected when severe amounts of decay begin to eat away at the inside of the tooth. If the root canal becomes infected, your dentist may refer you to an endodontist, or your dentist may have the expertise to perform the procedure himself or herself. During treatment, the dentist will completely clean out, as in remove, the diseased root canal and all structures within it. This means that after treatment, the tooth is dead. The space that is left by the removed root canal is then filled with dental materials to prevent future infection.

In many cases, teeth that have undergone a root canal are too weak to be supported by a simple filling, bonding, or inlay or onlay. Most patients have a dental crown, or cap, placed over the affected tooth to provide additional support and strength. Before the crown can be placed, the tooth must be filed down so a crown will fit over the tooth. Once the tooth has been sufficiently prepped for the crown, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth and send it to the dental lab that is going to fabricate your crown. Dental crowns can be made of metal, porcelain, or ceramic material, and will be custom made to fit over your natural tooth. Once the crown is made, your dentist can cement it in place with dental bonding materials.

Once your teeth and gums are in good health, you can consider undergoing cosmetic dentistry procedures such as the placement of porcelain veneers.