Relieving the pain, saving the tooth.
A toothache that does not ease up is one of the most stressful dental problems you can face. Sharp pain when you bite down, a dull ache that lingers for days, or sudden sensitivity to hot and cold can all point to an infection deep inside a tooth. At Bayside Dental Arts, Dr. Andrey Ilyabayev treats infected and inflamed teeth with root canal therapy, removing the damaged tissue and sealing the tooth against future infection.
What Is a Root Canal
A root canal treats the soft tissue inside a tooth, called the pulp, once it becomes infected or inflamed. During treatment, Dr. Ilyabayev removes the infected pulp, cleans and shapes the empty canals, and seals them so bacteria cannot return. The outer tooth structure stays in place, which means you keep your natural tooth instead of losing it to an extraction. Many root canals start with a small problem, such as a cavity that grows deeper than a filling can repair, so catching decay early gives you the best chance of avoiding one altogether.
What Makes This Treatment Worth It
Signs You May Need a Root Canal
Not every case causes pain right away. Some infections spread quietly, which is one reason a regular checkup can catch a problem before it grows worse.
What Causes a Tooth Infection
Most root canals trace back to decay that reaches the pulp. A cavity that goes untreated for too long, a crack from an injury or a hard bite, or repeated dental work on the same tooth can all let bacteria reach the nerve.
The Root Canal Process
How long treatment takes depends mostly on how many canals the tooth has.
| Tooth Type | Typical Time | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Front teeth | 45 to 60 minutes | Usually only one canal to clean and seal |
| Premolars | About 60 minutes | Often one or two canals |
| Molars | 60 to 90 minutes | Typically three or more canals, more complex to fully clean |
Do You Need a Crown Afterward
A tooth that has had a root canal can become more brittle over time, since it no longer gets nutrients from the pulp inside it.
Recovery and Aftercare
Most patients return to their normal routine within a day or two. Mild soreness around the treated tooth is common and typically fades within a few days. If your pain gets worse instead of better, or you develop new swelling, call our office right away rather than waiting for your next visit.
Can a Root Canal Fail?
Root canals succeed most of the time, but no dental treatment has a 100 percent success rate. A treated tooth can occasionally become reinfected months or years later, sometimes because a canal was too narrow or curved to clean completely, or because a new crack lets bacteria back in.
Pain that returns after your tooth has healed, new swelling, or a return of the original symptoms months or years later are all reasons to have the tooth reevaluated. Dr. Ilyabayev can determine whether the tooth needs retreatment, a specialist referral, or, in rare cases, extraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Root Canal Hurt
Modern root canals are performed under local anesthesia, so the procedure itself should not hurt more than getting a filling. Most of the discomfort people associate with root canals actually comes from the infection itself, not the treatment that resolves it.
How Long Does a Root Canal Take
A front tooth with a single canal often takes 45 to 60 minutes, while a molar with several canals can take 60 to 90 minutes. Many root canals are finished in a single visit.
Is a Root Canal Better Than an Extraction
Saving your natural tooth with a root canal helps you keep your normal bite and prevents nearby teeth from shifting out of place. Extractions are sometimes unavoidable, but Dr. Ilyabayev only recommends removing a tooth when it cannot be saved.
What Happens if a Root Canal Fails
If pain or swelling returns after treatment, the tooth can often be retreated. Dr. Ilyabayev will evaluate whether retreatment, a specialist referral, or another option is the right next step.
How Successful Is Root Canal Treatment
A long-term review of clinical studies published in the International Endodontic Journal found root canal success rates between 82 and 93 percent, depending on how success is measured, with outcomes improving as techniques and materials have advanced over time (PubMed).
Does Insurance Cover Root Canal Treatment
Coverage varies by plan and by which tooth is being treated. Bayside Dental Arts accepts PPO insurance plans and can help verify your root canal benefits before treatment begins.
Do Not Wait Out a Toothache
Dr. Andrey Ilyabayev has treated patients throughout Bayside, Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island for years, and root canal therapy is one of the ways our dental team helps people keep the teeth they already have.
