If a tooth is damaged due to decay or trauma, extending beyond the enamel to involve the dental pulp, conservative treatments such as resin restoration or inlay may not suffice for treatment.

The process involves removing all damaged dental pulp from within the tooth, shaping the canal to resemble the form of the nerve, and completely filling the empty canal with a substitute dental pulp material extending to the root tip. This entire treatment process is collectively known as root canal therapy.

Root canal therapy involves mechanical and chemical removal and disinfection of inflamed dental pulp within the tooth. Currently, there are no devices or medications for root canal therapy that completely eliminate such stimulation, so some degree of unavoidable side effects may occur. Fortunately, pain from these causes is typically mild and tends to diminish gradually over time.