Root canal therapylets you shut out tooth pain for good

Your root canal is the part of your tooth that houses the tooth nerve, or pulp. The tooth nerve can ‘die’ due to trauma or infection. When this happens, there is a danger the tooth may fall out. But root canal therapy is a two-step procedure that can save the tooth. And it relieves any discomfort caused by the ‘dead’ tooth pulp. 
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The dentist first drills a tiny hole in the back of the affected tooth and cleans out the infected pulp from inside the root canal. Then, after approximately two weeks, the dentist checks that there is no more infected tissue. The dentist then fills in the canal with special material to prevent any future infections. 
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This usually leaves the tooth functioning and looking as it did before - although discolouration can occur in some cases.

Any discomfort after root canal therapy should be mild, and manageable with over-the-counter medication. And it should feel completely better within a couple of days. If you have severe pain, or discomfort that lasts longer than a couple of days after treatment, you should call your dentist straight away.

In many cases, root canal therapy works the first time. In some rare cases, an infection may recur. If infection recurs during that period, your dentist will simply repeat the cleaning-out procedure.