Save the Tooth, Stop the Pain
Inside every tooth is a small chamber of nerves and blood vessels — the pulp. When deep decay, a crack or trauma lets bacteria reach it, the pulp becomes inflamed and then infected. That's the throbbing, keeps-you-up-at-night toothache. At that point there's no rinse or antibiotic that fixes it permanently: the infected tissue must be removed, either with a root canal (saving the tooth) or an extraction (losing it). Whenever a tooth is worth saving, we save it.
Signs You Might Need a Root Canal
- Throbbing or spontaneous tooth pain, especially at night
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold (pain that hangs on after the trigger is gone)
- Pain when biting or chewing on one tooth
- A darkening or grey tooth
- A pimple-like bump on the gum near a tooth (a draining abscess)
- Facial swelling near a painful tooth — call us the same day: (613) 491-3300
Some infected teeth cause no pain at all and are found on routine x-rays — another argument for regular dental exams.
How Modern Root Canal Therapy Works
- Complete anesthesia. We numb thoroughly and test before starting. Anxious patients can add nitrous oxide or oral sedation.
- Isolation. A small protective sheet keeps the tooth clean and dry while we work.
- Cleaning and shaping. Through a small opening, we remove the infected pulp and disinfect each canal with fine, flexible instruments.
- Sealing. The cleaned canals are filled with a biocompatible material, sealing bacteria out for good.
- Restoration. The tooth is rebuilt — typically with a crown on back teeth — so it can chew confidently for decades.
Afterwards, expect a few days of mild tenderness that responds well to over-the-counter pain relief. The deep, throbbing pain? Gone — usually within a day.
Why Have It Done Here
Root canals at Dentistry @ Manotick are unhurried, thoroughly anesthetized and honestly explained — including when we think a tooth isn't worth saving and what the alternatives cost. Same-day emergency root canals are frequently possible for patients in acute pain, we bill insurance directly, and financing is available.
Toothache brewing? Don't wait for the weekend flare-up. Book now or call (613) 491-3300.
Root Canal Therapy — Frequently Asked Questions
Does a root canal hurt?
The procedure itself shouldn't hurt at all — your tooth is fully numbed first, and we don't start until it is. Most patients say it feels like getting a large filling. The pain people associate with root canals is actually the infection beforehand, which the root canal cures.
How long does a root canal take?
Usually one to two visits of about 60–90 minutes each. A straightforward front tooth can often be finished in a single appointment; molars with multiple canals sometimes need two.
Is it better to just pull the tooth?
Almost never, if the tooth is saveable. Keeping your natural tooth preserves your bite, your bone and your chewing power. An extraction may seem cheaper up front, but replacing the tooth properly with an implant or bridge costs considerably more than the root canal that would have saved it.
Will I need a crown afterwards?
Usually for molars and premolars, yes — a root-canaled back tooth is more brittle, and a crown protects it from fracturing. Front teeth can sometimes be restored with just a filling. We'll tell you exactly what your tooth needs and why.