The reputation has not caught up
Root canal therapy has a fearsome reputation built on decades- old technique. The procedure of 2026 is barely the same treatment. With proper local anesthesia, rotary instrumentation, and a quiet, methodical approach, most patients tell us afterward that it felt no different from having a filling done. Many fall asleep in the chair.
The tooth that needed the root canal was the painful part. Treating it brings relief.
When you need one
The center of each tooth contains a pulp made of nerves and blood vessels. When that pulp gets infected — usually from a deep cavity, a fractured tooth, or repeated dental work — it cannot heal on its own. Common signs include:
- Sharp pain when chewing or biting
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold after the stimulus is gone
- Darkening of the tooth
- A small pimple on the gum next to a tooth
- Swelling in the gum or face
- Dull throbbing that wakes you at night
Sometimes there is no pain at all — a routine X-ray reveals an infection at the root tip that needs treatment.
The treatment, step by step
We begin with thorough numbing. Once the tooth is completely comfortable, we isolate it with a small protective dam and create a small opening on the chewing surface. Using fine rotary instruments, we gently clean the inside of the tooth, shape the canals, and disinfect them. We then seal the canals with a biocompatible material and close the opening with a filling.
Most root canals are completed in a single appointment of 60 to 90 minutes. More complex cases — a curved canal, an unusually long tooth, a re-treatment — may be split across two visits.
Almost every root canal needs a crown afterward to protect the tooth from fracture. We do that crown right here too.
Why “non-surgical”?
The vast majority of root canals are non-surgical — done entirely through a small opening in the crown of the tooth. A small minority of complex cases need a surgical approach (apicoectomy), in which case we will refer you to an endodontic specialist. For everyone else, your treatment stays here at Westlake.
After the appointment
Mild soreness for a couple of days is normal — over-the-counter ibuprofen handles it well. The intense pain that brought you in usually resolves within 24 hours, often immediately. Most patients return to work the same day or the day after.