Root canal therapy is simply the procedure to treat the inner aspect of a tooth that houses the pulp tissue. There is probably no other dental procedure that can illicit a more feared response from a patient than "having a root canal". The actual procedure can often be done in one visit and is usually not uncomfortable at all. What can be painful is the severe discomfort associated with an infected tooth left untreated and the association with the therapy has given this procedure a bad reputation which is not really deserved.