1. About.com
  2. Health
  3. Dental Care

What is a Root Canal?

From , former About.com Guide

Updated: August 14, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Question: What is a Root Canal?

Answer: A Root Canal is a dental procedure to fix a tooth by removing the pulp chamber of the tooth and filling it with a suitable filling material. A root canal is usually performed when the tooth cannot be filled or restored any other way because the decay has reached the nerve of the tooth or the tooth has become infected.

A root canal is also called root canal therapy or root canal treatment.

More Dental Care Q&A

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. 

A part of The New York Times Company.

We comply with the HONcode standard
for trustworthy health
information: verify here.