The first step of the root canal treatment process is to clean out the interior of your tooth (the pulp chamber and all root canals). This cleaning process removes any bacteria, toxins, nerve tissue, and related debris that are harbored inside your tooth. For the most part the cleaning process is accomplished by way of using "root canal files." We use a series of root canal files, each of increasing diameter, up and down in your tooth while simultaneously using a twisting motion. This action will scrape and scrub the sides of the tooth's root canal(s), thus cleaning it out. Additionally, as part of the cleaning process we wash your tooth out periodically so to help flush away any debris that is present. Once the tooth has been thoroughly cleaned we can fill in and seal up its interior by way of placing root canal filling material.

The goal is to clean the entire length of the tooth's root canal(s), but not beyond. As a means of determining the length of a canal we use an electronic device that can make this same determination when it is touched to a file that has been positioned in a canal.