A tooth comprises of four layers - enamel, dentine, cementum and the pulp. Enamel is the outermost layer and pulp is the core. Besides these parts, the root of a tooth reaches deep into the jaw bone for firmness and support. A channel comprising the pulp starts from the crown and ends at the tip of the root. The pulp is a storehouse of connecting tissues, blood vessels and nerves. It provides nourishment and sensation to the tooth. When this part of the tooth is infected, root canal treatment is administered in order to get rid of the infection.
Root canal treatment is also referred to as endodontic treatment or root canal therapy or simply RCT. When cavity formation is neglected, the infection spreads to the pulp and roots, thereby necessitating root canal treatment to save the tooth.