Glossary
Root Canal Glossary
Essential terms for understanding root canal therapy — from the anatomy of the tooth pulp to the instruments used and what happens after treatment.
Root canals have an undeserved reputation for being painful — in reality, the procedure relieves pain caused by an infected tooth. Understanding the terminology helps demystify the process and set accurate expectations for your appointment.
- Abscess
- A pocket of pus that forms at the end of the tooth root due to infection.
- Endodontics
- The branch of dentistry specializing in root canal treatment.
- Endodontist
- A dentist who specializes in root canal treatment.
- Pulp
- The soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels.
- Pulpectomy
- Complete removal of the infected or damaged pulp tissue.
- Root Canal Therapy
- A procedure to remove infected or damaged pulp from inside a tooth.
- Dental Dam
- A thin sheet of rubber used to isolate the tooth being treated.
- Files
- Small instruments used to clean and shape the root canals.
- Gutta-percha
- A rubber-like material used to fill the root canals.
- Irrigation
- Flushing the root canals with disinfectant solutions.
- Paper Points
- Absorbent paper tips used to dry the root canals.
- Apicoectomy
- A surgical procedure to remove the tip of the tooth root.
- Crown
- A dental restoration that covers the entire tooth, often placed after a root canal.
- Necrosis
- Death of the pulp tissue.
- Periapical X-ray
- An X-ray that shows the entire tooth, from crown to root.
- Post and Core
- A support structure placed in the root canal to provide stability for a crown.
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet stimuli, which can occur after a root canal.
Related Treatment
Root Canal Treatment
Save an infected tooth and relieve pain with modern, comfortable root canal therapy.
Learn about root canal treatment →