A root canal becomes necessary when the living tissue in the middle of a tooth becomes infected or abscessed. The root canal procedure removes the infected tissue, disinfects the tooth and seals the inside of the tooth. Many times a tooth requires a crown after the root canal is completed to strengthen the tooth and prevent breaking.
Generally, a root canal is no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed in a tooth. It can be a more tedious and lengthy procedure, but is not usually uncomfortable.
