Think You Might Need a Root Canal? We'll Get You the Right Care.

A root canal treats inflammation or infection inside the soft tissue (pulp) at the center of a tooth — usually caused by deep decay, a cracked or chipped tooth, a faulty older filling or crown, or trauma. The infected pulp is removed, the space is cleaned, disinfected, and sealed, which relieves pain and saves the natural tooth rather than extracting it.

Endodontists complete additional years of specialized training focused entirely on treating the inside of the tooth, and they use equipment — operating microscopes, specialized imaging — built specifically for that work. For a procedure this precise, we'd rather send you to someone who does it every day than perform it occasionally ourselves. We stay involved throughout: we diagnose, refer, and then restore the tooth once treatment is complete.

Not typically — with modern anesthesia, a root canal generally feels similar to getting a filling, and it relieves the pain that was already there from the infection rather than causing new pain. Mild soreness for a few days afterward is normal and manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.

• Severe pain while chewing or biting
• A pimple-like bump on the gums
• A chipped or cracked tooth
• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation should have faded
• Swollen or tender gums
• Deep decay or darkening near the gumline

Any of these are worth a prompt exam — catching it early usually means simpler, less costly treatment.

You'll come back to Zusin Dental so we can restore the tooth, usually with a custom crown, to protect it and return it to full function. With proper care, a tooth that's had a root canal and a well-fitted crown can often last the rest of your life.

Cost depends on which tooth is affected — molars are more complex to treat and typically cost more than front teeth. Most dental insurance plans provide at least partial coverage for root canal treatment. We'll help you understand the estimate from the endodontist's office alongside the cost of your follow-up crown here.

Saving the natural tooth with a root canal is generally preferable when possible: it preserves normal biting force, avoids the additional cost and time of replacing an extracted tooth with an implant or bridge, and keeps neighboring teeth from shifting. Extraction becomes the better option only when a tooth is too damaged to save.