Thanks to modern dentistry, there is no longer any reason to cringe when you hear the words “root canal.” The procedure—which is used when the pulp of your tooth becomes badly decayed or infected—is largely pain-free and actually alleviates the pain and sensitivity you are probably already feeling in the area. Your Bartlett Dental Care endodontist will remove the affected pulp, clean and shape the inside of the root canal, and then fill and seal the space, readying it for a crown or other restoration.