In the past, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, the tooth would probably be extracted. Today our goal is to save all of the teeth.

If the nerve inside of the tooth is injured  it will usually die. The resulting toxins and bacteria will travel out at the tip of the root. The body combats this infection bysurrounding the tip with  a balloon-like abscess.  As the infection grows, the abscess gets larger and extreme pain can occur.  This abscess can be seen on an x-ray. The nerve may be injured by either decay,  bacteria reaching the nerve through cracks in the tooth, or  through trauma and a broken tooth.    
    
A "Root Canal" is the process of removing the diseased nerve from the root and replacing it with an inert material. This is cemented inside the root and seals off the root from the tissues. The body can now heal the abscess and the pain goes away.    
    
Following a root canal procedure, a crown is necessary to strengthen the tooth.

Most of the time a root canal is a simple procedure with little or no discomfort.