Emergency Root Canal Therapy in Tucson, AZ

Root canals have a bad reputation they do not deserve. The procedure itself is not what causes pain. The pain comes from the infected nerve inside the tooth, and the root canal is what stops it. Most patients tell us afterward that it was no worse than getting a filling.

When bacteria reach the pulp (the soft tissue inside the tooth containing the nerve and blood supply), the tooth becomes infected. This causes severe, throbbing pain that painkillers barely touch. Without treatment, the infection can form an abscess at the root tip and spread to surrounding tissue.

Dr. Torres performs emergency root canals at our Tucson office. The procedure involves numbing the tooth, creating a small opening in the crown, removing the infected pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the canals inside the root, and filling them with a biocompatible material. The whole process takes about 60 to 90 minutes for most teeth.

After a root canal, the tooth needs a crown to protect it. We can place a temporary crown the same day and schedule the permanent crown for a follow-up visit. Some patients feel mild soreness for a few days after the procedure, managed easily with over-the-counter ibuprofen.

Root canal treatment in Tucson typically costs $500 to $1,000 depending on the tooth (front teeth are less expensive than molars because they have fewer canals). This does not include the crown, which is a separate cost. Most dental insurance plans cover a significant portion of root canal treatment.