Root canal therapy (abbreviated as RCT, also called endodontic treatment or therapy) is highly effective at saving teeth that would otherwise die and have to be removed. As with all dental procedures, it’s best to get a tooth in need of an RCT treated quickly so that the situation doesn’t worsen. That said, how do you know if you need a root canal? When Root Canal Therapy Is Needed First, let’s begin with why RCT may be needed. When the pulp of a tooth (the soft tissue inside