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Root Canal Treatment Root canal treatment (or "root filling") means removing damaged or dead nerves from inside a tooth and filling the space left. If left untreated, a dead nerve inside a tooth can eventually cause an abscess at the tip of the root. The procedure for carrying out a root filling is as follows:- An x-ray is taken to show the shape and number of roots present. Front teeth normally have a single root canal while back teeth can have up to four. This first x-ray can be a good guide as to the degree of difficulty and therefore the prognosis for a successful root treatment. If necessary, the tooth is numbed. It is normal to stretch a sheet of rubber (called 'rubber dam') over the tooth being worked on; this keeps the root canals dry during the treatment. A hole is made in the biting surface of the tooth to gain access to the canal(s). To measure the length of the canal(s), a diagnostic x-ray is taken with a narrow metal instrument placed inside each canal. The canal or canals are thoroughly cleaned and shaped using a combination of rotarty and hand-held files. Once the canals are washed and dried, they are filled with a rubbery material called gutta percha. This stops new bacteria from entering the canal space. Another xray is taken of the tooth to check the appearance of the root filling and the access cavity is then restored.