Restorative
Root canal therapy in Billerica
Root canal treatment relieves the pain of an infected tooth and allows the natural tooth to be kept rather than extracted.
Why a tooth needs one
Inside every tooth is a chamber of soft tissue — the pulp — holding the nerve and blood supply. When decay reaches it, or a crack lets bacteria in, or a hard knock damages it, that tissue becomes infected. It cannot heal on its own, and the infection has nowhere to drain, which is why the pain can be so severe.
A root canal removes the infected tissue, disinfects and seals the space, and leaves the tooth in place. The alternative is extraction, and replacing a tooth involves more treatment and greater cost than retaining it.
Signs you may need one
Pain that lingers
Especially pain that wakes you up, or that keeps aching long after something hot or cold has gone.
Sensitivity to heat
Cold sensitivity is common and often harmless. Pain from something hot is more concerning.
A darkening tooth
A single tooth going gray or brown often means the pulp inside has died, sometimes years after an injury.
A pimple on the gum
A small bump near the root that comes and goes is an abscess draining. It means infection, even if it doesn’t hurt.
Swelling or tenderness
Puffiness in the gum around one tooth, or pain when you bite down on it.
No symptoms at all
Some infections produce no symptoms and are found only on an x-ray, which is one reason routine checkups matter.
What the appointment involves
With modern anesthetic, the treatment feels comparable to having a filling placed, and relief from the infection is immediate.
1
Numbing
The tooth and surrounding area are fully numbed before treatment begins. If you feel anything, we stop and administer more.
2
Cleaning out the canal
A small opening is made in the top of the tooth, the infected pulp is removed, and the canals are cleaned and shaped.
3
Sealing
The space is filled with a biocompatible material and sealed so bacteria can’t get back in.
4
Protecting the tooth
A treated tooth is more brittle, so a back tooth almost always needs a crown afterward to keep it from fracturing.
Common questions
Is a root canal painful?
The procedure is done under local anesthetic and most patients say it felt like a filling. The pain people associate with root canals is the infection beforehand — which is what the treatment removes.
How long does it take?
Usually one to two hours. Some teeth, particularly molars with several canals, are done over two visits.
Could I have the tooth extracted instead?
Extraction is sometimes the appropriate choice. It does leave a gap requiring an implant or a bridge to restore properly, which typically costs more than the root canal and crown. Retaining the natural tooth is usually the better outcome.
Will I need a crown afterward?
For back teeth, nearly always — they take the force of chewing and a treated tooth is more prone to cracking. Some front teeth can be restored with a filling instead.
Related treatments
Emergency dentistry
Same-day whenever we can, for pain, breaks, and swelling.
Dental crowns & bridges
Protecting a tooth with too little structure left.
Tooth extractions
When a tooth genuinely can’t be saved.
Have a question about root canal treatment?
Call and we’ll talk it through — no appointment needed to ask.