ServicesRoot Canals
Root Canals in Flower Mound
A throbbing tooth does not always have to come out. We clean the infection from inside the tooth, seal every canal to its full length and plan the crown that protects it, so the tooth you keep stays comfortable for years.
Saving the tooth you already have
A root canal removes infected or inflamed pulp from the hollow center of a tooth, then fills and seals that space so bacteria cannot move back in. Your natural root stays in the bone, which keeps your bite and jaw working the way they did before.
Most root canals that fail later do so because of small things: a canal that was not cleaned all the way to its tip, an extra canal nobody found, or a temporary filling left in place too long before the crown went on. Those are the details we slow down for.
Sometimes a tooth is cracked below the gumline or too broken to rebuild. When that is the case, we tell you plainly and talk through extraction and dental implants instead of treating a tooth that will not hold.
What your root canal treatment includes
Imaging before we start
Digital X-rays show the roots and the infection around them. When a tooth has curved or hidden canals, a CBCT scan gives us a 3D view so nothing gets missed.
Numbing that is checked, not assumed
We test that the tooth is fully numb before any work begins. If you still feel something, we stop and add more.
Isolation with a rubber dam
A thin sheet keeps saliva out of the tooth while it is open. It sounds small, but saliva carries the bacteria we are working to remove.
Cleaning to the full canal length
Each canal is measured, shaped and rinsed with disinfecting solution all the way to the tip of the root. Short cleaning is one of the most common reasons an old root canal flares up again.
A tight seal and a crown plan
The canals are filled and sealed, then the top of the tooth gets a sealed filling. For back teeth, we schedule the crown on a set timeline so the tooth is not left exposed.
Signs a tooth may need a root canal
- Pain that lingers after hot or cold
- A quick twinge that fades is usually nothing to worry about. Sensitivity that hangs on for 30 seconds or more often points to an inflamed pulp.
- Throbbing that wakes you up
- An ache that pounds with your pulse and flares at night, when you are lying flat, often signals infection inside the tooth.
- A bump on the gums
- A raised spot next to the tooth that oozes or keeps returning usually means an abscess is draining.
- Tenderness when you bite
- If pressing down on one tooth hurts, the tissue around its root may be inflamed.
- A tooth turning darker
- A tooth that goes gray after an old injury may have a dying nerve, sometimes before any pain shows up.
How your visit goes
- 1
Your call and evaluation
Everything starts with a $25 focused evaluation. We do a comprehensive exam, take digital X-rays and, if the tooth needs a closer look, a CBCT scan, then sit down for treatment planning and a consultation. By the end you know whether the tooth can be saved and what it will take.
- 2
Getting comfortable
We numb the area, confirm it worked and place the rubber dam. Plenty of patients say the appointment feels much like a longer filling.
- 3
Cleaning and sealing
We open the tooth, find every canal, clean each one to its full length and seal it. Many teeth are finished in one visit, though a badly infected tooth may need a second.
- 4
Protecting the tooth
You go home with a sealed filling on top and simple instructions for the next few days. Your crown appointment gets booked before you leave so it does not slip.
What affects the cost of a root canal
Before any work starts, you get a written treatment plan with each line explained, so nothing at checkout catches you off guard. We are in-network with 15+ major PPO dental insurance plans. If you want to spread payments out, we offer 0% interest financing for up to 24 months, and seeing whether you are preapproved has no impact on your credit score.
- Which tooth it is
- A front tooth usually has one canal. A molar can have three or four, often curved, and each one adds time and careful work.
- Whether it was treated before
- Redoing an older root canal means removing the original filling material before cleaning can start, which adds steps to the visit.
- The crown or buildup afterward
- Back teeth generally need a buildup and a crown to stand up to chewing. We put that in your plan and price it before treatment begins.
- Your coverage
- PPO benefits vary from plan to plan, and we are happy to review yours with you. If you have no insurance, our In-house Membership Plan for uninsured patients can lower what you pay.
Root canal questions patients ask us
- Does a root canal hurt?
- Most of the pain people link with root canals comes from the infected tooth before it is treated. We only start once the area is fully numb, and we check that first. Expect some soreness for a few days afterward, which over-the-counter pain relievers usually handle well.
- Should I just pull the tooth instead?
- If a tooth can be restored, keeping your own root is usually the better path. An extraction leaves a gap that lets nearby teeth shift unless it is filled with a dental implant or bridge. When a tooth cannot be saved, we will say so and walk you through those options.
- Will my tooth need a crown once the root canal is done?
- Back teeth almost always do. After treatment the tooth gets more brittle, and a crown keeps chewing forces from splitting it. A front tooth can sometimes be finished with a filling, and we will tell you which applies to yours.
- How long until I can eat normally?
- You can eat once the numbness wears off, using the other side of your mouth. Stay away from hard or sticky foods on the treated tooth until the crown is in place.
- What if my old root canal is bothering me again?
- An older root canal can become reinfected if a canal was missed or the seal has broken down over time. We take new images, find the cause and explain whether retreatment, extraction or another option makes the most sense.
Let's find out if your tooth can be saved
One phone call gets you a focused evaluation with imaging and a clear plan. Patients from Highland Village, Lewisville and nearby are welcome.