A root canal is a dental procedure used to treat and save a tooth that is severely decayed, infected, or damaged. During a root canal, the infected or damaged pulp (the soft tissue inside the tooth) is removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned, disinfected, and sealed to prevent further infection.

Root canal treatment is highly successful in saving teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted. With proper care and maintenance, a tooth that has undergone a root canal can function normally for many years.