A natural tooth consists of three layers: the outer enamel layer, the dentin layer, and the tooth pulp (nerve). Tooth decay begins in the enamel layer and is initially painless. If the decay is neglected, it progresses to the dentin layer, where the patient may start to feel varying degrees of pain.
Eventually, the decay reaches the tooth pulp, causing severe pain that becomes unbearable for the patient and, in many cases, prevents them from sleeping or resting.
When tooth decay reaches the pulp, the only solution is for the dentist to perform a root canal treatment to address the damaged tooth nerves and roots.
What Is a Root Canal Treatment?
It is a procedure to clean out tooth decay, remove decay from the pulp chamber and root canals, and eliminate all bacteria. The root canals are then filled with gutta-percha to replace the damaged nerves, and the outer crown is filled with a cosmetic filling.
The root canal is a part of a normal tooth, specifically the hollow section that contains the nerve tissue, connective tissue, and blood vessels, also known as the pulp.