Root canal treatment

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Information for the public about root canal treatment.

The information comprises:

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure to treat infection at the centre of a tooth (the root canal system). Root canal treatment is also called endodontics. The infection is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and invade the tooth when:

  • tooth decay occurs
  • fillings leak
  • teeth are damaged by trauma, such as a fall

See the Health A-Z topic onĀ Tooth decay for more information about how decay starts.

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