Root Canals

Repair

One or two visits, 60-90 minutes each

First visit $89, 60 minutes

Book your first visit

A root canal treats an infected or dying nerve inside a tooth. We clean out the canals, disinfect them and seal them, then crown the tooth so it does not split. It has a bad reputation it no longer deserves: the toothache is the painful part, and the treatment is what ends it.

What it feels like

Numb throughout, with pressure and the sound of small files. Most people say it feels like a long filling. The throbbing usually stops the same day.

How we treat it

We take an X-ray, test the nerve and tell you honestly whether the tooth is worth saving or better replaced.

The canals are cleaned under a rubber dam, disinfected and filled. Front teeth usually take one visit, molars one or two.

A crown follows within a few weeks, because a root-treated molar that is left uncrowned often cracks.

Common questions

Is it as bad as people say?

No. The tooth is numb and the pain you came in with is gone by the evening. The reputation comes from the days before modern anesthetic.

Should I just have it pulled?

Pulling is cheaper today and more expensive later, because the gap needs filling. We give you both plans and both prices and you decide.

How long will the tooth last?

A root-treated and crowned tooth usually lasts as long as the ones around it.

What does it cost?

$780 for a front tooth, $1,090 for a molar. The crown afterwards is quoted separately.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Results vary from person to person. Facial swelling, a fever with tooth pain or trouble breathing needs emergency care. Call 911.