Relieve Tooth Pain and Save Your Natural Tooth
A throbbing toothache, lingering sensitivity, or swelling near a tooth can be signs that the inside of the tooth is infected or inflamed. Without treatment, that infection can spread, damage the surrounding bone, and eventually cost you the tooth. Root canal therapy removes the source of the problem, stops the pain, and lets you keep your natural tooth for years to come.
At New Face Dentistry, our dental team provides gentle, comfortable root canal therapy using modern techniques and effective local anesthesia. Most patients are surprised to find the procedure feels much like getting a filling. Even better, we can often restore the treated tooth with a same-day CEREC crown, so your tooth is fully protected sooner. Patients from Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Brookhaven, and across Atlanta trust us to turn painful dental emergencies into lasting relief.
Get Relief From Tooth PainWhat Is Root Canal Therapy?
Inside every tooth, beneath the hard outer enamel and dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, and it extends from the crown of the tooth down through the root canals. When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed because of deep decay, a crack, trauma, or repeated dental work, it can cause significant pain and lead to an abscess.
Root canal therapy, also called endodontic treatment, removes the damaged pulp, cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth, and seals it to prevent reinfection. The tooth is then restored with a filling or crown so it can function normally again. Millions of teeth are saved with root canal therapy every year.
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
Some infected teeth cause obvious pain, while others produce subtle symptoms or none at all. Call our Atlanta office if you notice:
- Severe or persistent toothache, especially when chewing or applying pressure
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the source is removed
- Swollen, tender, or red gums near a specific tooth
- A pimple-like bump on the gums that may release pus
- Darkening or discoloration of a tooth
- Pain that wakes you up at night
- Swelling in the face, jaw, or neck
- A cracked or chipped tooth that has become painful
Because infection can sometimes develop without pain, regular exams and digital X-rays help our team catch problems early.
Inside a Modern Root Canal: What Happens Step by Step
A root canal is usually completed in one or two visits, depending on the tooth and the extent of the infection. Our dental team works carefully and checks in with you throughout the procedure to keep you comfortable. Here’s what happens:
Benefits of Saving Your Tooth with a Root Canal
Root canal therapy offers important advantages for your comfort, your smile, and your long-term oral health:
- Ends tooth pain: Removing infected pulp relieves the throbbing ache and pressure caused by infection.
- Saves your natural tooth: Keeping your own tooth is almost always the best choice for your bite and jaw health.
- Stops infection from spreading: Treatment prevents bacteria from damaging the surrounding bone and tissues.
- Preserves your jawbone: A natural tooth root continues to stimulate and support the jawbone.
- Maintains natural chewing and appearance: A restored tooth looks and functions like your other teeth.
- Prevents shifting teeth: Keeping the tooth in place stops neighboring teeth from drifting into a gap.
- Avoids tooth replacement costs: Saving a tooth is often more cost-effective than extraction followed by an implant or bridge.
- Long-lasting results: With a proper restoration, a treated tooth can last a lifetime.
Why a Crown Often Follows a Root Canal
After a root canal, a tooth no longer has its internal blood supply, which can make it more brittle over time. This is especially true for molars and premolars, which absorb heavy chewing forces. A crown covers and reinforces the tooth, protecting it from cracks and fractures.
With our in-office CEREC technology, we can often design, mill, and place a custom ceramic crown during the same visit. That means fewer appointments and faster protection for your restored tooth.
Insurance, Financing, and Smile Club Savings for Root Canals
Most PPO dental insurance plans provide partial coverage for root canal therapy and the crown that follows. Our Atlanta office accepts most PPO plans, including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Delta Dental Premier, and Guardian, and our team will verify your benefits and explain your costs before treatment.
We also accept CareCredit financing for qualified patients. If you don’t have insurance, our Smile Club members save up to 15% on most treatments, including root canals and crowns.
Don’t Let Tooth Pain Wait
An infected tooth won’t heal on its own, and delaying treatment can lead to more pain, a spreading infection, and the loss of your tooth. Gentle root canal therapy can relieve your discomfort and protect your smile for years to come. Our dental team welcomes patients from Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Brookhaven, and throughout Atlanta to our office at 700 Morosgo Dr NE, Suite J-100.
Call 404-262-9600 or request an appointment online. If you’re in severe pain, ask about same-day emergency appointments.
Request an AppointmentFAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canal Therapy
A root canal shouldn’t hurt more than a routine filling. Our dental team numbs the tooth thoroughly with local anesthetic before treatment, so you’ll feel pressure but not pain. In fact, root canal therapy relieves the severe pain caused by an infected or inflamed tooth. Mild tenderness for a few days afterward is normal and typically responds well to over-the-counter pain relievers.
You may need a root canal if you have a persistent toothache, lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when chewing, swollen gums, a pimple-like bump on the gums, or a darkened tooth. However, some infected teeth cause few or no symptoms. The only way to know for sure is a dental exam with digital X-rays. Our Atlanta team will evaluate the tooth and explain whether root canal therapy is needed.
Most root canals take about 60 to 90 minutes and can often be completed in a single visit. Molars, which have more canals, may take longer or require a second appointment. Severe infections sometimes need an additional visit to allow the tooth to heal before it’s sealed. Our team will give you a clear estimate of your treatment time during your evaluation.
Recovery after a root canal is usually quick and easy. Most patients return to work or school the same day or the next. The tooth may feel sore or tender for a few days, particularly when biting, but this improves steadily. Avoid chewing on the treated tooth until it’s fully restored with a crown, and call our office if you have severe pain or swelling.
In most cases, yes, especially for back teeth. After a root canal, the tooth can become more brittle and prone to cracking. A crown protects and strengthens the tooth so it can handle normal chewing forces. At our Atlanta office, we can often place a custom CEREC crown the same day, so you don’t need to return for a separate crown appointment.
A tooth treated with a root canal can last a lifetime when it’s properly restored and cared for. Placing a crown, brushing and flossing daily, and keeping up with regular dental visits all help protect the treated tooth. Root canal therapy has a high success rate, and most patients enjoy many years of comfortable function from their saved tooth.
Delaying a needed root canal allows the infection to keep spreading. This can lead to worsening pain, an abscess, damage to the surrounding bone, and facial swelling. Over time, the tooth may become too damaged to save, leaving extraction as the only option. Patients in Midtown, Buckhead, Decatur, Brookhaven, and across Atlanta should call our office promptly if they notice signs of tooth infection.
Most PPO dental insurance plans provide partial coverage for root canal therapy, and many also cover a portion of the crown that follows. Coverage levels vary by plan and by tooth. Our Atlanta team will verify your benefits before treatment and explain your out-of-pocket costs. We also accept CareCredit financing, and Smile Club members save up to 15% on most treatments.
Yes, most patients can return to work, school, or their normal activities right after a root canal. Your mouth will stay numb for a few hours, so wait until feeling returns before eating. If you chose sedation, you’ll need someone to drive you home and should rest for the remainder of the day. Most people feel back to normal within a day or two.
