root canal

noun

: the part of the pulp cavity lying in the root of a tooth

also : a dental operation to save a tooth by removing the contents of its root canal and filling the cavity with a protective substance

Examples of root canal in a Sentence

I need to have a root canal.

Recent Examples on the Web

That doesn’t include visits to the dentist to get a cavity filled or a root canal — and having someone drill in your mouth is never fun. —Elizabeth Cohen, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2025

JaNa is effortlessly funny while Kenny mostly sits there, looking like a student dentist is about to perform their first-ever root canal on him. —Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025

Most policies pay for preventive care, like fillings and teeth cleanings, but not cosmetic work, and major procedures like root canals are largely charged to patients. —Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 28 July 2025

Treatment of toothaches depends on the cause but may include professional dental cleaning, placement of a dental filling, root canal treatment, antibiotics, or oral surgery. —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 21 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for root canal

• chaparral
• ileal
• musicale
• perceval
• rationale
• supernal
• bal
• dal
• gal
• mal
• pal
• sal

Kids Definition

root canal

noun

: the space in the root of a tooth that contains soft sensitive tissue

also : a dental procedure to save a tooth by removing this tissue when diseased or injured and filling the space with a protective material

Medical Definition

root canal

noun

1

: the part of the pulp cavity lying in the root of a tooth

called also pulp canal

2

: a dental operation to save a tooth by removing the contents of its root canal and filling the cavity with a protective substance (as gutta-percha)