How is the Dental Nerve Removed? | Tülay Akkol Dental

10.02.2026

While the enamel surrounds the tooth on the outermost layer and protects it, the tissues and nerves located in the pulp layer ensure the vitality of the tooth. As is well known, regular oral care is required to maintain dental health.

Teeth are essential for nutrition and digestion, as they are responsible for grinding food. Teeth are living structures. They are formed by the combination of enamel, cementum, dentin, and pulp. While enamel surrounds the tooth on the outermost layer and protects it, the tissues and nerves in the pulp layer provide the tooth with vitality. As is well known, regular oral care is necessary to protect dental health. However, even when oral and dental care is maintained, teeth may still be damaged in some cases and the nerves may die. The situations that cause this include the following:

Dental cavities
Incorrect dental treatment applied to the tooth
Decay of fillings in filled teeth over time
Cracks in the tooth
Trauma or impact to the tooth
Excessive reduction of the tooth
Teeth clenching
Grinding

The pulp tissue does not contain bacteria on its own. However, problems such as cavities in dental tissues allow bacteria to enter the pulp and cause it to become infected. In addition, since the pulp does not have the ability to heal itself, prolonged irritation reduces blood flow and leads to nerve death. As a result, dental nerves are removed and various treatments are applied. The question of how dental nerves are removed can be answered in two ways. When the nerves die, there are actually only two treatment options: tooth extraction and root canal treatment.

What Problems Occur When the Nerves Die?

When a tooth loses its vitality, unexplained pain may occur during biting and chewing. Sensitivity experienced while consuming hot and cold beverages is another problem caused by dying or dead dental nerves. Redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums may occur, and various cavities may develop in the teeth.

When the nerves lose their vitality, abscesses that cause pain at the root tip may sometimes form. In some cases, fistulas may develop on the gums and near the roots, allowing the dental infection to drain outward. Since abscesses cause severe pain and the infection may spread throughout the body, they must be treated immediately. The most successful treatment method for these conditions is root canal treatment.

What Is Root Canal Treatment and How Is It Applied?

In root canal treatment, the soft pulp tissue and dental nerves located in the natural cavity called the root canal, which is protected by the hard structure of the tooth, are removed. The inside of the tooth is cleaned, and the resulting space is filled.

Root canal treatment is performed by a dentist or, if directed by the dentist, by an endodontist. The first step is to take an X-ray in order to visualize the shape of the canals. This X-ray helps determine whether there are any signs of infection in the surrounding bone. The second step of the treatment is local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth. After this step is completed, the dentist opens an access hole to reach the root canal. Once the access hole is opened, harmful bacteria, decayed nerve tissue, and pulp are removed from the tooth. The remaining microscopic debris is cleaned by regularly irrigating the area with water or sodium hypochlorite. After the cleaning process is completed, the opened hole is sealed. In this way, the question of how dental nerves are removed is answered.