In the past a badly infected tooth due to severe decay was doomed for extraction, nowadays, majority of these teeth can be salvaged by an Endodontist (Root canal treatment Specialist). Root canal treatment may be indicated if you have the following symptoms - Spontaneous pain or throbbing while biting. - Severe sensitivity to hot or cold foods. - Pain at night or in a laying down posture. - Abscess or swelling in the adjacent gums. Root canal treatment basically consists of removing the infected pulp tissues within the tooth, causing the pain, and filling the canal space with a biocompatible material called Gutta Percha, this is done after obtaining the correct root canal length using radiographs and shaping the canal space with special instruments, all this is done under local anesthesia and hence a painless procedure, usually done as a single visit or two visit procedure. The root Canal Treated tooth is then restored, following which a crown is recommended to prevent tooth fracture because the tooth tends to become brittle due to loss of moisture. Additional reinforcement such as root canal posts may be required during restoration, depending on the extent of damage to the tooth due to decay or fracture of the tooth. Sometimes when there has been long standing infection or abscess, there may be some soreness associated with the root canal visit. If this should turn out to be true, you will be given specific instructions to follow to minimize the discomfort. When an infection is present, it may be necessary to take an antibiotic. If pain should be present, analgesics may need to be prescribed.