A root canal (also called endodontic treatment) is the cleaning out of the inside nerve of a tooth and replacing it with a material that seals the inside of the root so infection cannot get back in.

How do I know if I need a root canal?
- a tooth is currently causing you pain or else has a history
  of being painful
- you have noticed the presence of tenderness and/or swelling
  in your gums near a tooth and / or a persistent or reoccurring
  pimple on your gums

A root canal treatment first removes bacteria, nerve tissue, the organic debris left over from the breakdown of nerve tissue, and bacterial toxins out from within the inner aspects of a tooth (the area originally occupied by the tooth's nerve tissue). All of these items either are or will produce the tissue irritants that can cause your body to activate an inflammatory reaction.

Once this space has been cleansed, root canal treatment involves filling in and sealing off the interior of the tooth, so bacteria can't get back in.

After a root canal is completed, it is generally recommended to have a crown placed on the tooth to provide strength. Because the process of a root canal involves removing the nerve tissue from the tooth and essentially hollowing out the inside of the tooth, the tooth may be more susceptible to breakege or fracture. A crown will help reinforce & strengthen the tooth.