Root canals today are not like the painful and time-extensive root canals of days gone by. In most cases, treatment takes only one appointment and there is rarely any "pain".
Endodontic treatment, more commonly referred to as a root canal, becomes necessary when the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected or inflamed. This can be caused by deep decay, trauma to the tooth, a crack, or a variety of other reasons. If left untreated, it can cause significant pain or infection.