Root canal therapy treats infection inside a tooth. The inflamed pulp is removed, the canal cleaned and sealed, and the tooth restored — usually with a crown. The point of the treatment is to keep a tooth that would otherwise have to be extracted.
Signs you may need one
- Persistent toothache, especially on biting or with pressure
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold after the source is removed
- Swelling or tenderness in the gum near a tooth
- A tooth that has darkened
Not every one of these means a root canal is needed — an examination and X-ray will tell us. If you are in significant pain right now, see our emergency page.
What treatment involves
The area is numbed with local anesthetic. An opening is made in the tooth, the infected pulp removed, and the canals cleaned, shaped and sealed. Depending on the tooth, this takes one or two visits. A crown is usually fitted afterward, because a treated tooth is more brittle than a healthy one.
Afterward
Some tenderness for a few days is normal and usually settles with over-the-counter pain relief. Avoid chewing hard food on the tooth until the permanent restoration is in place. Contact us if pain increases rather than eases, or if swelling develops.
Common questions
Is a root canal as bad as its reputation?
That reputation predates modern anesthetics and techniques. Most patients say the procedure itself felt no worse than having a filling — the pain that brought them in was the worst part.
Could the tooth just be pulled instead?
Extraction is an option, but losing a tooth affects your bite and the neighboring teeth, and replacing it with an implant or bridge is usually more involved than saving it. We will explain both routes honestly.
Is it covered by insurance?
Root canal therapy is a restorative procedure and most plans contribute. We will check your benefits before treatment so there are no surprises.
Visit us in Queens Village
Aesthetic Dental Group
9609 Springfield Blvd # 206, Queens Village, NY 11429
(718) 740-7700
Open Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM–7:00 PM, Friday 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM–4:00 PM. We see patients from Queens Village, Bellerose, Hollis, Cambria Heights, Floral Park and across Queens.
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