Does root canal treatment kill the tooth?

You may ask how can a tooth survive in the body when it's dead.  It is true that root canal therapy involves removing the tissue from within the roots, but it does not "kill" the tooth.  The tooth is still connected to the bone by a ligament, called the periodontal ligament.  That ligament is rich in blood and nerve supply and continues to provide the tooth with a tactile sense (proprioception) even after root canal treatment.  A true "dead" tooth would be rejected by the body.

Why save your tooth?

When presented with tooth extraction as a solution to a dental problem, be sure to gather all the facts.  Ask your dentist if root canal therapy is an option to save the tooth.  Extraction sounds like the quick and easy treatment to address a toothache or broken tooth, but often times it results in more treatment time and expense.