When a root canal is needed
Deep decay, a crack, or trauma can let bacteria reach the nerve inside your tooth, causing infection and often intense pain — throbbing toothache, sensitivity to hot and cold that lingers, swelling, or a pimple-like bump on the gum. At that point the infection won't heal on its own: the options are root canal therapy or losing the tooth.
What actually happens
Under complete local anesthesia, we remove the infected nerve tissue, clean and disinfect the canals inside the root, and seal them. Most patients say it feels no different from getting a filling — and the relief from the original pain is immediate. Afterward, the tooth is usually restored with a crown from our in-house ceramic lab to protect it long-term.
Why saving the tooth matters
Nothing functions quite like your natural tooth. A successful root canal lets you keep it for decades — avoiding the extraction, drifting teeth, and replacement costs that follow losing one.
Frequently asked questions
No — the procedure is done under full local anesthesia, and most patients compare it to getting a filling. It relieves the pain caused by the infection.
Usually one to two visits of about 60 to 90 minutes each, depending on the tooth and the extent of infection.
Usually yes, especially for back teeth — a crown protects the treated tooth from cracking. Ours are made in-house, minimizing your treatment time.