Root Canal Therapy in Kitchener

Root canal therapy saves a tooth whose nerve has become inflamed or infected. At Highland Kitchener Dentist, on Highland Rd W in west Kitchener, we do root canals for patients who arrive with a throbbing toothache, and just as often for people who had no idea anything was wrong until an x-ray showed a problem at the tip of a root. The treatment has a reputation it doesn’t deserve. With good freezing, most people tell us it felt a lot like getting a large filling.

What root canal therapy actually is

Under the enamel and dentin of every tooth is a soft core called the pulp. It holds the nerve and blood vessels, and it runs down through narrow channels in each root. Deep decay, a crack, a large old filling that has leaked, or a hard knock to the tooth can let bacteria reach that pulp. Once it’s infected, it can’t heal by itself. The body tries to fight back, pressure builds inside a space that can’t swell, and that’s where the pain comes from.

During a root canal, the dentist removes the damaged pulp, cleans and shapes the inside of each canal, disinfects it, and seals it with a rubber-like filling material. The outside of the tooth stays where it is. You keep your own root in your own jawbone, which is why we usually try to save a tooth before we talk about removing it.

Signs you might need a root canal

Some teeth make a lot of noise. Others give almost no warning. These are the things patients in Kitchener most often describe before we find a pulp problem:

• Pain when you bite or chew, especially on one spot
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers for a minute or more after the drink is gone
• A toothache that wakes you up or starts on its own
• Swelling in the gum or face near one tooth
• A small bump on the gum that drains and comes back (often called a gum boil)
• A tooth that has turned grey or darker than its neighbours, sometimes years after an injury

None of these prove you need a root canal. Gum problems, a cracked filling or sinus pressure can all feel similar. That’s why we test the tooth and take an x-ray before recommending anything. Our office is fully digital, so the image is on the screen within seconds and we can show you exactly what we’re looking at.

If your face is swelling quickly, or the swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to a hospital emergency department right away. For a bad toothache without those warning signs, call us, and see our emergency dentist page for what to do in the meantime.

Who root canal therapy is right for

A root canal makes sense when the tooth is worth keeping: there’s enough healthy structure left to rebuild, the gums and bone around it are in reasonable shape, and the tooth matters for chewing or for your smile. Front teeth usually have one canal and are fairly simple. Molars can have three or four canals, some of them curved or very narrow, so they take longer.

Sometimes a tooth is too broken down or cracked below the gumline to be saved. In that case we’ll say so, and talk about removal and what could replace the tooth afterward, such as a bridge, a partial denture or an implant. A few teeth with unusual root shapes are best handled by an endodontist (a dentist who limits their work to root canals), and we’ll tell you if we think yours is one of them.

What happens at your root canal visit

Most root canals at our Kitchener office take one or two appointments. Here’s how a typical visit goes:

1. Freezing. We numb the tooth and the area around it with local anaesthetic and check that it’s fully frozen before starting. If you feel anything, tell us and we’ll add more.
2. Isolation. A thin rubber sheet called a dam goes around the tooth. It keeps the tooth dry and clean and stops anything from slipping toward your throat.
3. Cleaning the canals. The dentist makes a small opening in the top of the tooth, removes the pulp, and uses fine instruments and rinsing solutions to clean each canal to its tip.
4. Sealing. The canals are filled and sealed so bacteria can’t get back in.
5. Closing the tooth. A filling goes on top. If we’re finishing over two visits, a temporary filling holds things in place until you come back.

Expect to be in the chair for about the length of a long filling appointment, a bit more for molars. Bring headphones if music helps you relax.

Recovery and aftercare

Your lip and cheek will stay numb for a few hours, so wait before eating anything hot or chewy. Over the next few days the tooth may feel tender when you bite, a bit like a bruise. That’s normal and usually settles within a week. Over the counter pain relievers taken as directed on the package are enough for most people. Ask your pharmacist if you’re not sure which one suits you.

Call us if pain gets worse instead of better after a few days, if swelling appears, or if the temporary filling falls out. Until the tooth has its final restoration, chew on the other side.

Why a crown often follows

A tooth that needed a root canal has usually lost a fair amount of structure to decay or old fillings, and the opening we make removes a little more. Back teeth take heavy chewing forces, and without protection they can crack. For that reason we often recommend a dental crown on molars and premolars after a root canal. Front teeth sometimes only need a filling. We’ll explain which applies to your tooth.

Root canal or extraction?

Patients sometimes ask whether it’s simpler to just pull the tooth. It can feel that way, but a missing tooth changes your bite. Neighbouring teeth drift into the gap, the opposite tooth can over-erupt, and the bone where the root used to be slowly shrinks. Replacing the tooth later usually means more appointments than saving it would have. That said, there are good reasons to choose removal, and we’ll lay out both paths honestly so you can decide.

Insurance, direct billing and CDCP

Most dental plans include root canal therapy, though the amount covered varies. We bill most plans directly, and some specialist work may be billed differently. We’ll explain the fees before treatment, and if you’d like, we can send an estimate to your insurer first so you know where you stand. If you’re covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan, ask us how it applies to your treatment. For anything your plan doesn’t cover, we accept credit cards and cash.

Root canal questions

Does a root canal hurt?

The procedure itself shouldn’t. The tooth is frozen, and most of the pain people associate with root canals is actually the infection beforehand. Many patients feel better within a day or two because the pressure inside the tooth is gone.

How long does a root canal take?

One visit for many front teeth and premolars. Molars, or teeth with an active infection, may need two. We’ll give you an idea at your exam.

Can a root canal tooth get infected again?

It’s uncommon, but it can happen if new decay gets under a filling or the tooth cracks. Regular checkups and a good final restoration lower the risk. If it does happen, the tooth can often be treated again.

Can I drive myself home?

Yes. Local freezing doesn’t affect your ability to drive.

Book a root canal assessment in Kitchener

If a tooth is aching, sensitive or swollen, don’t wait for it to settle. We’re at 140 Highland Rd W, an easy trip from Forest Heights, Westmount and the rest of west Kitchener. Call 519-885-1598, ask about same day appointments, or read our blog post on root canal treatment and tooth preservation for more background.

Related treatments

• Dental crowns
• Emergency dentist

Questions or ready to book? Contact our Kitchener office or call 519-885-1598.