Most common procedure

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is how a tooth with an infected nerve is saved instead of pulled. Your endodontist treats it under a surgical microscope with 3D CBCT imaging and rubber dam isolation, seeing every canal clearly. Your dentist can refer you, or you can call any of our offices directly.

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Updated October 21, 2026

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Direct answer

A root canal removes infected pulp from inside a tooth, cleans the canal system, and seals it to save the natural tooth. The procedure typically takes 60 to 90 minutes under local anesthesia and is no more uncomfortable than a routine filling. Most patients return to normal activities the same day.

See it step by step

What happens during a root canal

What Is Root Canal Therapy?
Root canal therapy is the specialist treatment that saves a tooth when the pulp inside it becomes inflamed or infected. At Mid-Florida Endodontics, every root canal is performed by an endodontist (a dentist with years of extra training focused only on the inside of the tooth), using 3D CBCT imaging and a surgical operating microscope to find and treat canals a standard X-ray can miss. You’ll find that same specialist care at MFE locations across Florida.

Why Would I Need a Root Canal?

Inside every tooth is a soft tissue called the pulp, a network of nerves and blood vessels that helps the tooth develop. Once a tooth is fully formed, the pulp is no longer essential to its function. When the pulp becomes infected or irreversibly inflamed, from deep decay, a crack, trauma, or a failing restoration, it cannot heal on its own. Root canal therapy removes the compromised tissue, eliminates the infection, and seals the tooth to restore full function.

Common signs that root canal therapy may be needed:

Spontaneous throbbing or aching pain, especially at night
Severe sensitivity to heat that lingers after the source is removed
Cold sensitivity that lingers noticeably after the cold is removed
Sharp pain when biting or chewing
Swelling of the gum, cheek, or jaw near the affected tooth
A pimple-like bump on the gum (sinus tract) that may drain
Tooth discoloration or darkening
A tooth identified on X-ray or CBCT as having a periapical (relating to the area surrounding the very tip of a tooth’s root) lesion (an area of infection and bone damage at the tip of a tooth’s root, visible on X-rays) even without obvious pain

Your general dentist may refer you to us after identifying one or more of these signs, or you can contact Mid-Florida Endodontics directly. Note that some insurance plans require a referral from your general dentist for specialist coverage, check your plan when scheduling.

How decay reaches the nerve and infects the canal system: the cross-section that explains why a root canal becomes necessary.

What Happens During a Root Canal Procedure?

Modern root canal treatment is a straightforward, well-controlled procedure. Here is exactly what to expect at Mid-Florida Endodontics:

3D Imaging and Diagnosis

We take a cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan before treatment begins, giving us a complete three-dimensional map of the tooth’s canal anatomy, surrounding bone, and any pathology. This eliminates surprises and allows us to plan the procedure precisely before touching a single instrument.

Comfortable Anesthesia

Local anesthetic is administered with care, at most of our locations using The Wand, a computer-assisted delivery system that releases anesthetic slowly and gently. We confirm you are fully numb before proceeding. You should feel no pain during treatment, only mild pressure or vibration.

Rubber Dam Isolation

A thin rubber sheet isolates the treated tooth from the rest of the mouth, keeping the area dry, preventing contamination from saliva, and protecting you from irrigating solutions.

Pulp Removal Under Microscope

A small opening is made through the top of the tooth. Under surgical microscope magnification, the infected or inflamed pulp tissue is carefully removed from the pulp chamber (the hollow space inside the crown of the tooth that houses the nerve and blood vessels) and each root canal. Microscope visualization allows us to identify all canals, including accessory canals that are invisible to the naked eye.

Cleaning, Shaping, and Disinfection

Flexible nickel-titanium rotary instruments clean and shape each canal to precise dimensions. Antimicrobial irrigating solutions, primarily sodium hypochlorite, flush debris and disinfect the canal system. Ultrasonic instrumentation is used to activate irrigant and ensure thorough penetration throughout. An electronic apex locator (a small device that uses electrical signals to precisely measure the length of each root canal) precisely measures canal length so cleaning is complete without overfilling.

Obturation: Sealing the Canal

Once cleaned and disinfected, the canals are filled with gutta-percha (a biocompatible, natural rubber-like material that has been the gold standard in endodontics for over 150 years), then sealed with a specialized cement to prevent bacterial re-entry. A temporary or permanent filling is placed over the access opening.

Crown Placement With Your General Dentist

After root canal treatment, the tooth requires a final permanent restoration placed by your general dentist, typically within 30 days, the sooner the better. We send a detailed treatment report to your dentist so the restorative phase proceeds seamlessly. Do not delay, the temporary filling is not long-term protection.

Every plan is reviewed with you before treatment begins.

Technology We Use on Every Case

Mid-Florida Endodontics invests in the most advanced endodontic technology available because it directly improves outcomes for every patient we treat.

3D Cone-Beam CT (CBCT) Imaging, used routinely on the vast majority of patients to map full three-dimensional tooth anatomy before treatment
Surgical Operating Microscope, high magnification used on every case for canal identification, tissue removal, and crack detection
The Wand Computer-Assisted Anesthesia, computer-controlled injection for a significantly more comfortable numbing experience
Nickel-Titanium Rotary Instruments, flexible, efficient canal shaping that conforms to natural canal curves
Electronic Apex Locator, precise canal length measurement accurate to fractions of a millimeter
Ultrasonic Instrumentation, for irrigation activation, canal troughing (using an ultrasonic instrument to carefully remove a thin groove of tooth structure to locate hidden root canal openings), post removal, and instrument retrieval

What Should I Expect After a Root Canal?

Most patients feel significantly better within 2-3 days after root canal treatment. Some soreness and tenderness for up to a week is completely normal and expected. Every patient heals at a slightly different pace.

Normal After Treatment

Mild to moderate soreness, most patients significantly better within 2-3 days
Tenderness for up to a week, normal range
Longer tenderness if you cannot take NSAIDs due to medical conditions
Gum tenderness from the rubber dam or injection sites
Jaw achiness from keeping mouth open
Overall gradual improvement in symptoms

Contact Us If You Have

No improvement at all after several days
Symptoms worsening at any point rather than improving
Visible swelling of the cheek, jaw, or neck
Fever alongside tooth discomfort
Return of severe pre-treatment throbbing pain

Medication: Take medications as prescribed or recommended by your provider. Do not apply heat or cold compresses to the outside of your face, this can increase swelling, particularly when infection was present. Eat soft foods and avoid chewing on the treated side until your crown is placed.

Most patients are back to normal activity by the next day.

Select a marker on the diagram, or a name below, to explore each part of the tooth.

Inflamed pulp

The living tissue with the nerve and blood supply. When it is inflamed, it causes the throbbing pain that brings most patients to us, and it is exactly what root canal therapy treats.

Enamel: The hard outer shell. Decay starts here, and because enamel has no nerve endings, early cavities are painless.
Dentin: The softer layer under the enamel. Once decay reaches dentin it moves faster, and hot and cold start to register.
Inflamed pulp: The living tissue with the nerve and blood supply. When it is inflamed, it causes the throbbing pain that brings most patients to us, and it is exactly what root canal therapy treats.
Root canals: Narrow channels that carry the nerve through each root. During treatment they are cleaned, disinfected, and sealed under a surgical microscope.
Abscess: A pocket of infection at the root tip that forms when bacteria escape the tooth. Antibiotics alone cannot cure it; treating the canal removes the source.

See the four stages of treatment illustrated, from inflamed tissue to regrown bone →

Cross-section illustration of a tooth before treatment, with inflamed tissue and an infection pocket at the root tip. — Before treatment: infection at the root tip

Cross-section illustration of the same tooth after healing, with healthy bone regrown around the root tip. — Healed: regrown bone at follow-up

Drag across the image, or use the slider, to compare before and after.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a root canal take?

Most root canal treatments at Mid-Florida Endodontics are completed in a single 60 to 90 minute appointment. Front teeth and pre-molars are usually faster; molars with three or four canals can take a little longer because each canal is cleaned and sealed individually. Your endodontist will give you a clear time estimate at the start of the visit so you know exactly what to expect.

Will I feel pain during a root canal?

A modern root canal feels very similar to having a deep filling placed. The area is fully numbed with local anesthetic before any work begins, so you should feel pressure and movement but not pain. Most patients tell us afterward that they were surprised how routine it felt, especially compared to the tooth pain they walked in with. More on what patients report, including a 1-to-10 pain scale: Does a root canal hurt?

How long is the recovery after a root canal?

Most patients return to normal eating and routine within 24 to 48 hours. Some mild soreness when biting down is typical for 2 to 3 days as the surrounding ligament settles, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories or whatever your dentist recommends usually handle it comfortably. Anything beyond a few days of soreness is uncommon, and your endodontist is one phone call away if you have questions.

Is a root canal better than pulling the tooth?

Saving your natural tooth with root canal therapy is almost always the better long-term choice when the tooth is restorable. Your natural tooth keeps the surrounding bone healthy, preserves your bite, and avoids the cost and complexity of an implant or bridge later. The American Association of Endodontists notes that a properly restored root-canal-treated tooth can last a lifetime.

Can I drive home after my root canal appointment?

Yes, you can drive yourself home after a routine root canal at Mid-Florida Endodontics. Local anesthesia only numbs the tooth and surrounding tissue, not your awareness or reflexes, so your motor skills and reaction time are unaffected. If you choose nitrous oxide or oral sedation for comfort, you will need a friend or family member to drive you home, and your endodontist will let you know in advance if that applies.

Do I need a crown after a root canal?

Most molars and pre-molars need a crown after root canal treatment to protect the tooth from fracturing under chewing forces. Front teeth that have only a small access opening can often be restored with a filling instead. Your general dentist will place the final restoration, usually within 2 to 4 weeks of finishing your root canal at Mid-Florida Endodontics.

How successful are root canals?

Modern root canal therapy has a long-term success rate above 90 percent when performed by an endodontist using a surgical microscope and 3D imaging. The combination of magnification, advanced instruments, and CBCT diagnostics has substantially improved outcomes compared to the techniques most patients remember from decades ago. Your treatment plan is built around giving your specific tooth its best chance for long-term success.

What happens if I delay a root canal?

Treating an inflamed tooth promptly gives the best chance of saving it comfortably and in fewer visits. The good news is that even teeth that have hurt for a while are usually still very treatable. If you are in pain, most of our offices offer same-day emergency care. Calling your nearest MFE location is the fastest way to get a clear plan.