Saving the tooth
Root canal therapy.
When a tooth’s nerve has been damaged or infected, root canal therapy stops the pain and saves the tooth. It’s less uncomfortable than its reputation suggests, and most patients are glad they did it.
Inside your tooth is a small chamber that holds your tooth’s nerve and blood vessels, the pulp. When you damage a tooth badly enough (by deep decay, a fracture, or repeated dental work) your pulp can become inflamed or infected. Once that happens, your tooth doesn’t heal on its own. Your choice becomes either root canal therapy to save the tooth, or extraction. Whenever your tooth can reasonably be saved, that’s what we recommend, and most Churchville and US-250 corridor patients who come to us with a deep ache leave glad they kept the tooth.
What “root canal” actually means for you
The procedure is straightforward. Once your tooth is fully numb, Dr. Agrawal opens a small access point in the top of your tooth, carefully removes the infected pulp tissue, cleans and shapes the inside of each root canal, and seals the canals with a biocompatible material (a sealant the body tolerates well). You get a temporary filling, and your tooth feels significantly better as soon as the inflammation starts to settle.
Most of your molars have three or four canals; your bicuspids and front teeth typically have one or two. Your whole procedure is comfortable, the numbness is the same as for a filling, and patients regularly tell us the appointment was less uncomfortable than they expected.
Then a crown for your tooth
After your root canal therapy, your tooth needs a crown to restore full strength. Your tooth has been thinned by the work, and without a crown it’s vulnerable to fracture. We typically schedule your crown a few weeks after the root canal, once your tooth has fully settled and we can confirm the treatment was successful.
Sedation, if you’d prefer
If you’re anxious about dental procedures, sedation options are available, including nitrous oxide for mild relaxation, or oral sedation for deeper calm. We’ll discuss what fits your preferences and medical history. Many patients who’ve put off a root canal for years because of anxiety find that mild sedation makes the appointment entirely manageable.
How long your treated tooth lasts
When your root canal is properly treated and finished with a well-fitted crown, your tooth often lasts decades. Your treated tooth no longer has a living nerve, but it functions normally for chewing, and looks like your other teeth. We have patients in this office with root canals from 25 and 30 years ago still doing fine.
Frequently asked
Root canals, common questions.
Does a root canal hurt?
The procedure itself is comfortable, the tooth is fully numb, and most patients describe it as no more uncomfortable than a routine filling. What hurts is the infection inside the tooth before the root canal. Treatment stops the pain. We hear that from patients all the time: they were dreading the procedure, and they felt better when it was done.
Why save the tooth at all? Why not just pull it?
Because your natural tooth is almost always better than a replacement. It holds your bite in place, prevents the neighboring teeth from shifting, and works the way teeth are supposed to. A root canal preserves your own tooth so it can keep doing its job for many more years. Extraction means dealing with a replacement (implant, bridge, or partial denture), more time, more cost, and rarely as good as the original tooth.
How long does it take?
Most root canals are completed in one or two visits, typically 60 to 90 minutes each. Front teeth and bicuspids are usually one visit. Molars sometimes take two. After the root canal, the tooth needs a crown to fully restore its strength, that's typically scheduled within the next few weeks.
Is sedation available?
Yes. For patients who are anxious about dental work, or who simply want to be more relaxed during a longer procedure, sedation options are available. We discuss your options at your consult and choose what fits your medical history and preferences.
How long will the tooth last after a root canal?
With a properly-placed crown and good home care, a root-canal-treated tooth often lasts decades, sometimes a lifetime. We have patients in this office with root canals from 25, 30 years ago that are still functioning well.
What if the tooth still hurts afterward?
Some mild tenderness for a few days after the procedure is normal, the surrounding tissue needs time to settle. Persistent pain, increasing pain, or new swelling means something needs attention, and you should call us at 540-337-6004. The vast majority of root canals are completely successful with no follow-up issues.
Tooth pain that won’t settle?
Call our front desk to schedule an evaluation. The sooner we look at it, the more options you have.