#rootcanal therapy Should decay penetrate deep into a tooth, pulp within the tooth may die or become irreversibly diseased. Dead pulp tissue can become infected & infection can spread down root canals into the jaw, to produce a dental abscess. Root canal therapy is a procedure undertaken by your dentist whereby dead or diseased tissue within the tooth is removed. The cavity is then cleansed & sterilised & eventually filled with a root filling material. This can sometimes be a lengthy & involved procedure which often requires several visits to your dentist.