Endodontists are dental specialists who diagnose and manage diseases and infections of the dental pulp and surrounding tissues. Inside a tooth lies the root canal, which contains a soft tissue called the dental pulp, consisting of blood vessels and nerves. The dental pulp can become inflamed or infected due to deep decay, deep restorations, a tooth crack, or dental trauma. If this occurs it is possible to treat and save the tooth with endodontic treatment (also known as root canal treatment).