A root canal is a treatment used to repair an infected tooth. Factors such as the patient’s general health, the extent of the infection and the anatomy of the tooth affect the outcome.

Common reasons for tooth removal include the eruption of a wisdom tooth or a tooth that is too badly damaged to be repaired. Tooth extraction is performed under local anesthesia and most pain disappears within a week.

The temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) consists of a hinge and a sliding joint, and can be easily damaged. Jaw pain and TMJ inflammation may be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, stress, or trauma.