Root canal therapy, also known as endodontic treatment, is one of the most effective methods of treating endodontic and periapical disease. By removing the inflammatory pulp and necrotic material from the root canal and disinfecting it appropriately, the root canal is filled to remove the adverse irritation of the root canal contents to the periapical tissues and to prevent the occurrence of periapical lesions or to promote the healing of periapical lesions. I. What conditions require root canal treatment? Generally speaking, root canal treatment is suitable for pulpitis, pulp necrosis and various types of periapical infection, including pulpitis caused by caries, hidden fracture, overconsumption, pulp penetration, etc. and pulp necrosis that cannot preserve the living pulp. How long does root canal treatment take and what is the specific procedure? Generally speaking, root canal treatment requires 2-4 visits and takes 2-3 weeks. Root canal treatment usually consists of three basic steps: root canal preparation, root canal disinfection, and root canal filling. First, the inflammatory pulp and necrotic material will be removed from the root canal, then the length of the root canal will be measured and enlarged appropriately (i.e. root canal preparation process), then the root canal will be sealed and disinfected, and finally the root canal will be filled with medication. Third, why is it necessary to kill the nerve for root canal treatment? When the pulp has suffered from infection or irreducible damage, if the pulp is still partially alive, the patient will feel pain at this time. In order to alleviate the patient’s symptoms and at the same time clean the diseased pulp to prevent further development of infection, it is necessary to extract the pulp nerve and perform root canal treatment. Fourth, why do I need to take multiple dental films for root canal treatment? It is necessary to take dental radiographs during root canal treatment and to make sure that at least 3 radiographs are taken. The first one is before the treatment to help the doctor understand the basic situation of the root and make the treatment plan; the second one is during the treatment to help the doctor understand the treatment situation, such as whether the root canal preparation is in place, and make the next treatment plan; the third one is after the treatment to help determine the quality of the root canal filling and find the problem to remedy in time. V. Why do I need to do full crown protection after root canal treatment? Many patients do not understand why they need to do full crown protection after root canal treatment when the tooth does not hurt anymore and the filling can be done, they think it is unnecessary. In fact, after root canal treatment, the tooth will become dark and brittle without the nutrients provided by the pulp, and the remaining part of the crown will be easily broken and split, which will lead to the reduction of the tooth’s service life, so a full crown is needed to protect it after root canal treatment. VI. Is root canal treatment safe? It is true that root canal treatment is more complicated, using many instruments and steps, and it requires several treatment steps and many x-rays to complete the whole process. At present, the technology is relatively mature, and clinical reports show that the success rate of root canal treatment is about 80% to 90%, which is the best treatment method to preserve the affected tooth. It is important to note that you must go to regular hospitals and dental clinics for root canal treatment in order to truly ensure the safety of your visit. After reading the above 6 points, do you have a clear understanding of root canal treatment? In fact, root canal treatment is not terrible, just a little bit complicated, but it is definitely a very effective way to protect the affected tooth.