---
title: "What Is Root canal therapy? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Root canal therapy removes the damaged or infected pulp from inside a tooth, cleans the space, and seals it. It is meant to save the tooth."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/root-canal-therapy
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Procedures

# Root canal therapy

Root canal therapy removes the damaged or infected pulp from inside a tooth, cleans the space, and seals it. It is meant to save the tooth.

Root canals are used to repair and save your tooth instead of removing it. In root canal therapy, a dentist removes the tooth's nerve from inside the tooth and from the areas in the root, known as the root canals. The dentist then cleans inside the tooth and each root canal.

The [tooth pulp](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/tooth-pulp) is made up of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. When it is dead or infected, it is removed with small tools called files. The canals are cleaned, then filled with a material. A final crown may be placed on top.

A root canal treatment usually takes 1 or 2 office visits to complete. Ask your dentist what to expect. Our office describes this on its [root canal page](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/root-canal). See also [gutta-percha](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gutta-percha).

[Town Center Dental can helpRoot Canal Treatment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/root-canal)

## Related terms

-   [Tooth pulp](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/tooth-pulp)
-   [Gutta-percha](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/gutta-percha)
-   [Dental crown](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-crown)
-   [Dental abscess](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/dental-abscess)
-   [Apicoectomy](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/apicoectomy)

## Sources

1.  [MouthHealthy (ADA): Root Canals](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/root-canals)
2.  [MouthHealthy (ADA): Root Canals](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/root-canals)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)