root canal
Americannoun
-
Also called pulp canal. the root portion of the pulp cavity.
-
Informal. root canal therapy.
noun
Etymology
Origin of root canal
First recorded in 1890–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Recent studies found that people who underwent root canal treatment for chronic infections at the tip of the tooth root experienced lower blood sugar levels and reduced inflammation over the next two years.
From Science Daily • May 16, 2026
It is one thing to imagine root canal surgery at the dentist.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
“One car survey showed customers would rather have a root canal than negotiate a car at a dealership,” said Jesse Toprak, a former automotive analyst who now runs OptiCar.AI, an online marketplace for cars.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
A successful root canal may provide benefits that extend beyond saving a tooth.
From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 2026
“Your dad scheduled a root canal at five P.M., so we won’t be home until later.”
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
