Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy can relieve infection and help save a natural tooth when the nerve inside the tooth is inflamed or infected.
Request an AppointmentA root canal is not the punishment patients imagine. It is a tooth-saving treatment used when decay, a crack, trauma, or deep dental work allows bacteria to reach the nerve space. The goal is to remove infection, relieve pain, and preserve the tooth when it can be predictably restored.
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
Symptoms can include lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting, swelling, a pimple on the gum, deep decay, darkening of a tooth, or a toothache that wakes you up. Some infected teeth cause little pain, which is why diagnosis matters.
What Root Canal Treatment Does
Root canal therapy removes infected tissue inside the tooth, cleans and seals the canal space, and allows the tooth to be restored. Many back teeth need a crown afterward to protect against fracture. If a tooth is too damaged to save, we will explain extraction and replacement options such as an implant or bridge.
Comfort During Treatment
Local anesthetic is used to keep the tooth numb. For anxious patients, Elm Ridge can discuss comfort options including nitrous oxide and conscious sedation with triazolam for appropriate candidates.
Root Canal FAQ
Is a root canal painful?
The purpose is to relieve pain from an inflamed or infected tooth. Patients are numbed for treatment.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Many back teeth need crowns after root canal therapy because they are more likely to fracture.
Can every tooth be saved?
No. If the tooth is cracked, structurally weak, or has poor support, extraction may be the better option.
Tooth pain should not wait.
Request an AppointmentAfter Root Canal Therapy
Review what to expect after treatment and how to protect the tooth while it heals.
View Root Canal Instructions