Final answer:
Root canal therapy is a dental procedure required when tooth decay reaches the pulp of the tooth, necessitating the removal of infected material to prevent abscesses. It involves cleaning and filling the root canal to prevent further infection, with cariogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans often at fault.
Step-by-step explanation:
Root canal therapy is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the center of a tooth (the root canal system). It involves the removal of the tooth's pulp, a small, thread-like tissue in the center of the tooth. Once the damaged, diseased or dead pulp is removed, the remainder of the space is cleaned, shaped and filled to prevent further infection. When caries, commonly known as tooth decay, progress and affect the pulp, root canal therapy may be necessary to prevent the continued spread of infection, which could lead to painful abscesses. The most cariogenic species of bacteria contributing to tooth decay is Streptococcus mutans, which metabolizes sugars in the diet to produce acids that erode tooth enamel.