If your tooth is beginning to give you pain, or if it's broken, you might need a root canal.  Sometimes root canals are done to prevent pain when a tooth has a large area of decay or a large existing restoration which is failing.  Strong and effective dental anesthetic is used to keep you comfortable.  Using a series of instruments, the nerve of your tooth is carefully cleaned out and the inside of your tooth is cleaned to remove infection and prevent future issues.  A rubber like filling material, called gutta percha, is placed inside the tooth to seal out bacteria.