Endodontics
Root canal treatment
Treatment that saves a tooth by removing infected or damaged tissue inside it.
Purpose
Save the tooth
Visits
One or two
Anaesthetic
Local
After
Often a crown
Overview
Root canal treatment clears infection or inflammation from inside a tooth, where the nerve and blood supply sit. It relieves pain and lets you keep a tooth that might otherwise need removing.
The canals are cleaned, shaped and sealed, and the tooth is then restored, often with a crown. It is usually done under local anaesthetic over one or two visits.
What to know
- Saves a badly decayed or infected tooth
- Relieves toothache caused by the nerve
- Done under local anaesthetic
- Often needs a crown afterwards
Common questions
Is root canal treatment painful?
The tooth is numbed, so it is usually no more uncomfortable than a filling.
Why not just remove the tooth?
Keeping your own tooth helps your bite and avoids gaps that may need filling later.
Will the tooth need a crown?
Back teeth often need a crown afterwards, as they can become brittle.
How long does the tooth last?
A well-treated and restored tooth can last for many years.
Can the infection come back?
It is uncommon, but if it does, retreatment or surgery may be options.
Having this treatment?
See your step-by-step journey →
Related topics
Post & core / build-up
A support built inside a root-treated tooth to hold a crown securely.
Dental crown
A custom cap that covers and protects a damaged or weakened tooth.
Root canal retreatment
Repeating root canal treatment when a tooth does not heal or becomes infected again.
Cracked tooth & the nerve
How a cracked tooth can irritate the nerve and what can be done about it.
Dr Rick Iskandar · Reviewed June 2026