Does a root canal hurt?

For most people it is much more comfortable than its reputation suggests. The tooth and the area around it are numbed before Dr. Ravi begins, and many people find it feels similar to having a filling. The toothache beforehand is often the hard part, and the root canal is what relieves it. Some tenderness afterward is normal and usually settles within a few days. An IV sedation option is available for anxious patients.

Do you do root canal treatment in Clarkson Village?

Yes. Dr. Ravi performs root canal treatment at Clarkson Village Dental Clinic, 1098 Clarkson Road North, so your care stays with the dentist who knows your history.

How long does a root canal take?

It depends on the tooth. A front tooth has one canal and is often quicker, while a back molar has more canals and takes longer. Some are completed in one visit and others over two. Dr. Ravi will tell you what to expect before starting.

Do I need a crown after a root canal?

Often, especially for back teeth, since a treated tooth can become more brittle and a crown protects it. Where one is needed, a same-day ceramic crown can be designed and milled here so it can be finished in a single visit. Front teeth sometimes need only a filling.

Does insurance or the CDCP cover a root canal?

Root canal treatment is generally the kind of care dental plans help with, but coverage depends on your specific plan. We accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP); check your eligibility at canada.ca. We will help you understand your coverage and include it in your written estimate.

How should I look after the tooth afterward?

The tooth and jaw may feel tender for a few days, and an over-the-counter pain reliever is often enough. Chew on the other side until any permanent crown or filling is in place and keep brushing and flossing as normal. If pain increases, swelling appears, or the temporary filling comes loose, call us.

Root canal treatment · Clarkson

Root canal treatment in Clarkson Village

If a dentist has told you that you may need a root canal, or a tooth has been aching and you suspect it, you're probably a little anxious, and that's completely normal. A root canal is a routine treatment that relieves pain rather than causing it. At Clarkson Village Dental Clinic, 1098 Clarkson Road North, Dr. Ravi treats the tooth carefully, keeps you comfortable, and explains each step in plain language before anything begins. No question is too small.

What a root canal is

Inside every tooth, beneath the hard outer layers, is a soft centre called the pulp, a small bundle of nerves and blood vessels. When decay, a crack, or an injury lets bacteria reach the pulp, it can become inflamed or infected. That is what causes the deep ache many people remember.

A root canal treats the problem at the source. Dr. Ravi removes the inflamed or infected pulp, cleans and shapes the narrow canals where it sat, then fills and seals them. The tooth stays in place, root and all. In plain terms, the treatment aims to let you keep your own tooth instead of having it pulled.

Signs you might need one

Teeth do not always announce trouble the same way. These are the signs Dr. Ravi hears about most often:

lingering pain or sensitivity: an ache that continues after hot or cold, rather than settling in a second or two
deep decay: a cavity that has reached, or nearly reached, the pulp
a cracked or broken tooth
pain when biting, or a tooth that is tender to the touch
a pimple-like bump on the gum or swelling in the face, which can be a sign of an abscess (an infection) and needs prompt attention

If a tooth is throbbing, swollen, or keeping you up at night, do not wait it out. Call us early in the day; see emergency dental care in Clarkson. Regular checkups and cleanings are the best way to catch problems while the fix is still simple.

Does it hurt?

This is the question almost everyone asks first. For most people the treatment itself is much more comfortable than its reputation suggests, and the ache that brought you in is usually the hard part. The root canal is what relieves it.

Before Dr. Ravi begins, the tooth and the area around it are numbed with local anaesthetic. Many people find it feels similar to having a filling done. We go at your pace and check in with you throughout. Some tenderness afterward is normal and usually settles within a few days.

If anxiety is what is holding you back, you have options. An IV sedation option is available to help you stay calmer and more at ease. Tell us how you are feeling when you book and we will plan the visit around you.

What happens, step by step

1. Numb the tooth. Dr. Ravi numbs the tooth and the surrounding area before anything starts.

2. Reach the pulp. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth to reach the inflamed or infected pulp.

3. Clean the canals. The pulp is removed, and the narrow canals inside the roots are cleaned and shaped.

4. Fill and seal. The cleaned canals are filled with a stable material and sealed to keep bacteria out.

5. Protect the tooth. A temporary filling closes the tooth, and in many cases a crown is placed afterward to protect it over the long term.

Depending on the tooth, treatment may take one visit or two. A front tooth has a single canal and is often quicker; a back molar has more canals and takes a little longer. Dr. Ravi will tell you what to expect for your tooth before he starts.

Root canal or extraction?

When a tooth is badly infected there are usually two paths: treat it and keep it, or remove it. Both are valid, and Dr. Ravi will give you an honest read on your specific tooth. Where a root canal is a sensible option, keeping your own tooth often makes sense, because it helps maintain your bite and keeps neighbouring teeth from drifting.

If a tooth cannot be saved, Dr. Ravi can talk you through what comes next, including dental implants. We will lay out the options and the costs of each so the decision is yours and it is an informed one.

Will I need a crown afterward?

Often, especially for back teeth that do the heavy chewing. A tooth that has had a root canal can become more brittle over time, and a crown protects it from cracking. Where a crown is needed, Dr. Ravi can discuss a same-day ceramic crown, designed and milled here so it can be finished in a single visit. Front teeth, which take less biting force, sometimes need only a filling. He will tell you what your tooth needs and why.

One dentist, close to home

Dr. Ravi performs root canal treatment here at the practice, so your care stays with the dentist who already knows your history and your other teeth. You can read more on our team page. We welcome patients from Clarkson, Lorne Park, and across south-west Mississauga. For the wider picture, see our page on root canal treatment in Mississauga.

Cost, insurance and the CDCP

The cost depends on which tooth it is and how many canals it has, and a crown afterward, if needed, is a separate cost. After examining the tooth, Dr. Ravi gives you a clear written estimate so you know the figures before anything begins.

Root canal treatment is generally the kind of care dental plans help with, though coverage depends on your specific plan. We direct-bill most insurers and will help you understand your plan. We also accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP); check your eligibility at canada.ca. New to the practice? See our new patients page.

Visit us

Clarkson Village Dental Clinic, 1098 Clarkson Road North, Mississauga, ON L5J 2V9 · (905) 855-2622 · info@clarksondentist.com. Accepting new patients, including CDCP. To book, request a visit.

Common questions

Questions answered.

Does a root canal hurt?: For most people it is much more comfortable than its reputation suggests. The tooth and the area around it are numbed before Dr. Ravi begins, and many people find it feels similar to having a filling. The toothache beforehand is often the hard part, and the root canal is what relieves it. Some tenderness afterward is normal and usually settles within a few days. An IV sedation option is available for anxious patients.
Do you do root canal treatment in Clarkson Village?: Yes. Dr. Ravi performs root canal treatment at Clarkson Village Dental Clinic, 1098 Clarkson Road North, so your care stays with the dentist who knows your history.
Why not just pull the tooth?: Both are options. Where a root canal is sensible, keeping your natural tooth often makes sense because it helps maintain your bite and keeps neighbouring teeth from drifting. Dr. Ravi will walk you through both paths honestly so you can decide.
How long does a root canal take?: It depends on the tooth. A front tooth has one canal and is often quicker, while a back molar has more canals and takes longer. Some are completed in one visit and others over two. Dr. Ravi will tell you what to expect before starting.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?: Often, especially for back teeth, since a treated tooth can become more brittle and a crown protects it. Where one is needed, a same-day ceramic crown can be designed and milled here so it can be finished in a single visit. Front teeth sometimes need only a filling.
Does insurance or the CDCP cover a root canal?: Root canal treatment is generally the kind of care dental plans help with, but coverage depends on your specific plan. We accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP); check your eligibility at canada.ca. We will help you understand your coverage and include it in your written estimate.
How should I look after the tooth afterward?: The tooth and jaw may feel tender for a few days, and an over-the-counter pain reliever is often enough. Chew on the other side until any permanent crown or filling is in place and keep brushing and flossing as normal. If pain increases, swelling appears, or the temporary filling comes loose, call us.

Book your visit

Worried about a tooth? Let us take a look.

Request a visit and Dr. Ravi will examine the tooth, explain your options in plain language, and give you a written estimate before anything begins. Call (905) 855-2622 or [request a visit](/contact).

Request an Appointment (905) 855-2622