Root canal procedures get a “bad rap”, but they’re actually a usually straightforward procedure to repair and save your tooth before it needs to be removed. Sometimes the soft tissues around the root of your tooth become infected because of a deep cavity, cracked tooth, repeated dental procedures or tooth injury. Your St. Charles Dental dentist will remove the tooth’s nerve from the inside of the tooth and in areas of the root and fill it with a rubber-like material to seal your roots against future infection. Typically, the pain is minimal or even non-existent.