Root canal treatment ( #endodontics ) is a dental procedure used to treat #infection at the centre of a tooth. #Rootcanaltreatment is not painful and can save a tooth that might otherwise have to be #removed completely. Why it's needed The infection at the centre of a tooth (the root canal) is caused by #bacteria that live in the mouth and invade the tooth. This can happen after: ***tooth decay ***leaky fillings ***damage to teeth as a result of trauma, such as a fall ***Tooth structure ***A tooth is made up of 2 parts. The crown is the top part of the tooth that's visible in the mouth. The root extends into the bone of the jaw, anchoring the tooth in position. Teeth also consist of: enamel – the hard outer coating dentine – a softer material that supports the #enamel and forms most of the tooth cementum – a hard material that coats the root's surface dental pulp – the soft tissue at the centre of the tooth The root canal system contains the dental pulp and extends fr...