It involves removal of an infected or dead nerve from the root canal of a tooth in order to treat a dental abscess or if we get there in time, it’s possible to prevent the abscess from developing at all. First it is necessary to determine the exact length of you tooth’s root allowing the removal of all the tissue inside the roots of the teeth, which contains all the nerves and blood vessels that nourish the tooth nerve all the way up to the tip of the root. The remaining root canal will then be cleaned, disinfected and shaped so that it can easily be filled. The root canals are then filled with a special root filling material. This is all done under a rubber dam, which is a special latex/vinyl cover which prevents any saliva or bacteria from re-entering the tooth once it has been disinfected. Front teeth will normally only have one root canal whereas back teeth can have up to four canals. It is often required to have two appointments before the root canal treatment can be completed. Once this has been carried out the tooth becomes much more fragile and so crowning of the tooth is normally advised.