Root canal therapy at iSmile Dental in Langley saves teeth that would otherwise need to be pulled. With modern techniques and effective anaesthesia, today’s root canals are typically no more uncomfortable than a routine filling — and they let you keep your natural tooth, which is almost always better than replacing it.
The pulp inside a tooth contains nerves and blood vessels. When decay, a crack, or repeated dental work lets bacteria reach the pulp, the tissue gets infected and inflamed. Common signs:
Sometimes there’s no pain at all and the infection is found on a routine X-ray. Either way, untreated infection spreads, and the tooth may eventually need extraction.
Most root canals are done in 1–2 visits. We use rubber dam isolation, rotary nickel-titanium files, and digital X-rays to make the procedure safer and faster than older techniques.
An extracted tooth has to be replaced — a missing tooth causes adjacent teeth to drift and the bone underneath to recede. Replacement options like dental implants or bridges are excellent but cost more than saving the original tooth. A root canal is almost always the better choice when feasible. See our root canal vs extraction comparison for the full breakdown.
If dental anxiety has been holding you back, we offer sedation options: nitrous oxide for mild relaxation, oral sedation for deeper calm, or both combined. Many patients who once dreaded dental work find these procedures completely manageable with sedation.
Root canal cost depends on which tooth — front teeth have one canal, premolars usually two, and molars three or four. Typical ranges in Langley: $700–$1,200 (front), $900–$1,500 (premolar), $1,200–$1,800 (molar). Most insurance plans cover root canal therapy. We accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and most major insurers.
Your tooth may feel tender for a few days. Over-the-counter pain medication is usually all that’s needed. Avoid chewing hard food on that tooth until the permanent crown is placed (usually a few weeks later). With a good restoration and routine care, root-canal-treated teeth often last decades.
The procedure itself is done with local anaesthesia and is generally pain-free. Most discomfort comes from the infection beforehand — and that resolves once the canal is cleaned. Mild soreness for 2–3 days after is typical.
Front teeth: 30–60 minutes. Molars: 60–90 minutes. Some cases are split into two visits with a temporary filling in between.
Front teeth often don’t, but back teeth almost always do — they take heavy biting forces and a root-canalled tooth is more brittle. Skipping the crown is the #1 reason root-canalled teeth fail.
Rarely (long-term success rate is roughly 90–95%). When they do, they can usually be retreated, or the tooth can be extracted and replaced with an implant.
Extraction. But replacing the tooth (implant, bridge, or accepting the gap) is rarely the better path when a root canal is possible.
Have a painful tooth? Call 604-510-3232 for a same-day root canal consult in Langley. Same-day emergency appointments are available.
