Endodontics, more commonly known as a Root Canal Therapy, is the process of removing an infected, dead, or injured pulp from your tooth. When bacteria enter the tooth through decayed teeth, leaky or failing restorations, or cracks in the tooth it can lead to an abscess. When a tooth is abscessed, it has an infection in the pulp of the tooth. Usually, you will be prescribed an antibiotic to treat the infection before we can treat the tooth. An abscessed tooth may cause pain, tenderness and swelling around the tooth and sometimes into the jaw. An x-ray is required to capture the roots of the tooth and to diagnose the infection. In some cases, you may need to be referred to a specialist, known as an endodontist, to treat complex cases.