As we like to say at Frisco Endodontics, your natural teeth are your best teeth. Instead of extracting your teeth and replacing them with dental implants, we work to preserve your natural teeth whenever possible. To understand how endodontics can help us achieve this goal, it helps to understand the anatomy of your teeth. Each tooth is comprised of a hard outer layer called enamel, an inner supportive layer called dentin, and a central layer called the pulp, which contains the blood vessels, nerves and tissue needed for tooth development. Blood vessels enter the tooth through its root, and supply nourishment to the pulp through narrow passages called root canals. When the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, it is necessary to remove the pulp, clean the canals, and seal them off to prevent further infection. Because the pulp is essential only for initial tooth development, removing it does not cause the tooth to die. The surrounding tissues continue to nourish the tooth, making it possible to preserve your natural teeth while removing the source of inflammation or infection.