The pain people associate with a root canal is almost always the infection that made it necessary. The treatment is what stops it, and for most patients it feels a lot like getting a filling.
Sensitivity to hot or cold that keeps aching after the drink is gone, rather than fading in a second or two.
A tooth that aches when you bite down or press on the gum above it, sometimes with swelling or a small bump nearby.
A single tooth darkening compared to its neighbors, which can mean the nerve inside has died even when nothing hurts yet.
None of these confirm anything on their own. An exam and an X-ray do, and you'll see that X-ray on the screen with us before anyone talks about treatment.
An exam and an X-ray tell us whether the nerve is infected or whether something simpler explains the pain. If a filling would fix it, that's what you'll hear.
This is the part that decides how the rest of the visit feels, so it isn't rushed. We wait until you tell us you're numb, and we check again before starting.
Dr. Grewal opens the top of the tooth, clears the infected tissue from inside the canals, and cleans them out. You'll feel pressure and hear some noise. You shouldn't feel pain, and if you do, we stop and add more anesthetic.
The cleaned canals are filled and sealed so bacteria can't get back in, then closed with a temporary filling. For most patients, everything to this point happens in one visit.
A treated tooth is more brittle than a healthy one, especially a molar doing heavy chewing. A crown keeps it from cracking later. This is a separate appointment and a separate cost, and we'll tell you that up front rather than at checkout.
The numbness wears off over a few hours. Wait until it's gone before eating so you don't bite your cheek, and chew on the other side while the temporary filling is in.
Mild soreness when biting is normal and usually settles within a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers handle it for most people. Severe or worsening pain isn't expected, so call us if that's what you're having.
Most dental plans cover a meaningful share of root canal treatment, and we verify your benefits before the appointment rather than after. You'll get the full number, including the crown, before you agree to anything.
See insurance & payment →Not during treatment. The tooth is fully numb first, and most patients say it felt like a longer filling. The pain people remember from root canal stories is usually the infection beforehand, which is exactly what the treatment relieves.
Plan on about 60 to 90 minutes. Front teeth have fewer canals and tend to go faster than molars.
Usually not for the root canal itself. Most cases are finished in a single visit here. The crown that protects the tooth afterward is a separate appointment a few weeks later.
You can, and sometimes that genuinely is the better call. But a natural tooth is worth keeping when it can be kept, and replacing one later with an implant or bridge usually costs more than saving it now. We'll lay out both options with real numbers rather than steer you.
Tell us when you book so we can plan the appointment around it. We agree on a stop signal before starting and honor it, and nothing happens without being announced first. There's more on our Nervous Patients page.
Yes. Local anesthetic doesn't affect your ability to drive, so you're fine to head straight home after your appointment.
A treated and crowned tooth can last decades, often the rest of your life. It still needs normal brushing, flossing, and regular checkups, since it can develop decay at the gumline like any other tooth.
An infected nerve doesn't recover on its own. Waiting risks the infection spreading into the bone, and past a certain point the tooth can't be saved at all. If cost or nerves are what's holding you up, tell us, because there's usually something we can work out.
Keep exploring: All Services · Nervous Patients · Our Approach
An exam and an X-ray answer the question quickly. Whatever we find, you'll hear the options and the cost before anything gets scheduled.