The present invention relates to methods and devices for treating root canals of teeth. The method removes pulp tissue from a pulp cavity of a tooth by creating an endodontic access cavity in the tooth with only partial deroofing of a pulp chamber of the pulp cavity; and removing pulp tissue that remains in coronal areas and pericervical dentin of the tooth, without removal of neighboring hard tissue. The device can remove pulp tissue from a pulp cavity of a tooth. The device includes a source of carrier fluid; a supply of particles; and a nozzle having an inlet in fluid communication with the source of carrier fluid and the supply of particles. The nozzle has an outlet for spraying a mixture of the carrier fluid and the particles. An outlet axis of the outlet of the nozzle is positioned at an acute angle with respect to an inlet axis of the inlet of the nozzle.