(HealthDayNews) -- It used to be that if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you probably would lose that tooth. Today, with a dental procedure called root canal therapy, you may well save the tooth, according to the American Dental Association.
Inside each tooth is the pulp, which provides it with nutrients. It runs like a thread down through the root. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies.
If you don't remove the diseased portion, your tooth gets infected and you could lose it. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Then your dentist places a crown over the tooth to help make it stronger.
Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure involving one to three office visits.
