Pulp therapy and root canal treatment are procedures that address damage or infection inside a tooth. Pulp therapy is used when the inner pulp has been compromised by deep decay, trauma, or infection — often in children — and the goal is to preserve the tooth. Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed pulp tissue from inside an adult tooth, cleans and seals the canals, and prevents reinfection to save the tooth from extraction.

For pulp therapy, the dentist removes part or all of the infected pulp depending on severity, treats the area with medicated material, and seals the tooth with a protective restoration. For root canal treatment, a small opening is made in the tooth to access the pulp chamber, infected tissue is removed, the canals are shaped and disinfected, and the tooth is sealed — typically followed by a crown.

Both procedures eliminate pain caused by infection, save the natural tooth, prevent the spread of bacteria to surrounding teeth and bone, and restore full function. Pulp therapy also maintains proper alignment of surrounding teeth, particularly important in younger patients.