Root canal treatment is an effective procedure used to treat an infected tooth. It is required when the tooth pulp which contains the living tissue has become infected. If the tooth is not treated the infection can spread through the root canals, increasing the risk of an abscess forming. The procedure, which is carried out under local anaesthetic, involves the removal of the infected pulp tissue from the tooth. The tooth root canal is then cleaned, filled and sealed to prevent further infection. In many cases, root canal treatment can be used to save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted.