Root canals have a bad reputation. The reality is much quieter.
Most patients who need a root canal are already in pain — and the root canal is what makes it stop. The procedure has a reputation that's decades out of date. Modern root canal treatment is done under local anaesthesia and usually takes about an hour; many patients find it much less of an ordeal than they expected.
When you need one
A root canal is needed when the pulp inside your tooth — the nerve and blood supply — becomes infected or irreversibly inflamed. This usually happens from deep decay, a crack, or repeated procedures on the same tooth. Signs include persistent throbbing pain, sensitivity to hot and cold that lingers, pain when biting, swelling near the tooth, or a darkening tooth. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all and we catch it on an X-ray.
What happens during treatment
We numb the area thoroughly first. A badly inflamed tooth can be harder to freeze, so tell us if you're still feeling anything and we'll top it up before going further. Then we access the interior of the tooth, remove the infected pulp tissue, clean and shape the root canals, and fill them with a biocompatible material. For most teeth, we place a temporary filling and schedule a follow-up for a crown, which protects the tooth long-term. Front teeth sometimes don't need a crown. The whole thing takes 60 to 90 minutes.
After the procedure
Mild soreness for a few days is normal — over-the-counter painkillers are enough for most people. You can eat on the other side while the temporary filling is in place. The crown appointment is usually two to three weeks later. Once the crown is on, the tooth goes back to normal function, and with good care a root-treated tooth can serve you for many years.
The alternative
The only alternative to a root canal on an infected tooth is extraction. We'd rather save the tooth when we can — keeping your own tooth is usually the better outcome where the prognosis is good. If extraction is actually the better option (heavily fractured root, poor prognosis), we'll say so.
Common questions
Does a root canal hurt?+
With local anaesthesia you shouldn't feel the procedure itself. Most patients tell us the worst part was the toothache that brought them in. Some soreness afterwards is normal and usually settles within a few days.
How much does a root canal cost?+
It depends on the tooth — front teeth are simpler than molars. Insurance usually covers root canals as a basic or major procedure. We'll give you an exact quote and run a predetermination with your insurer before we start so you know your real out-of-pocket.
Can a root canal fail?+
Most root canals hold up well, but no treatment works every time — success rates are good rather than guaranteed, and molars are harder than front teeth. If reinfection occurs, retreatment or a minor surgical procedure called an apicoectomy can often resolve it.
Related services
Emergency Dentist in Yellowknife
A cracked tooth at a hockey game, a filling that lets go on a Saturday morning, pain that wakes you up at three — these things don't wait for a convenient time. Call us and we'll triage it and get you in as quickly as we can, often the same day. Outside opening hours, use the emergency line.
Sedation Dentistry in Yellowknife
If the thought of sitting in a dental chair makes your heart rate go up, you're not unusual — dental anxiety is one of the most common reasons people put off care. We see it every week, and we don't treat it as something to get over. We treat it as something to plan around.
Ready when you are.
Book online any time, or call reception and we’ll find you a slot. In pain? Say so when you call and we’ll get you seen as soon as we can.