Innes Dental Health Group - Ottawa

Root Canal in Ottawa

Root canals can be careful, quick, and relatively pain-free bringing you immediate relief and saving your natural tooth.
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Saving your natural tooth

In a root canal procedure, the pulp of the tooth (the living tissue inside) is removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated dental materials that restore the tooth to full function. Using root canal therapy not only preserves your natural tooth, extending its lifetime, it also protects and preserves the jaw bone and other supporting tissues around the tooth. Wherever possible, saving your natural tooth will also save you from more pain and expense down the road.

    There are a number of signs that suggest root canal therapy may be necessary:
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold.
  • Severe toothache pain.
  • Red or swollen gums near the tooth.
  • Discolouration of the tooth.
  • An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.

The root canal treatment plan

A root canal treatment usually requires one or two office visits and is performed by either a dentist or an endodontist. Here is how we perform your root canal:

Diagnosis and Treatment Plan

The first step requires an x-ray of the tooth and the surrounding bone to find out what’s causing your symptoms. Your specialist may prescribe antibiotics to help control infection and inflammation. The pressure from infected swelling is what makes an abscess so painful and is often the cause of pain during a root canal. Reducing this inflammation in advance removes this factor during the procedure.

Prepping the Tooth

When we’re ready to perform the root canal, we will patiently numb the area before freezing your gums, teeth and tissues. Your comfort and peace-of-mind are important to us. Once you’re comfortable, an access hole is drilled into the tooth. The pulp, bacteria, decayed nerve tissue, and related debris are removed.

Sealing the Tooth

Depending on the severity of the abscess, we may put some medicine inside the tooth to completely clear up any infection. If the procedure requires multiple visits, a temporary filling will be applied. At this point, you will already feel some relief. Only when your tooth is thoroughly cleaned and healthy can it be permanently sealed.

Cost of a root canal in Ottawa

The cost of dental treatment varies widely, but saving the tooth with a root canal is more cost-efficient in the long run. With a typical insurance plan, root canal therapy has an average out-of-pocket cost of around $200 to $500+. After an oral exam, we would be happy to provide you with an accurate quote for your insurance company so you can find out your actual out-of-pocket costs. Without insurance, you can expect to pay anywhere from $600 to $1200+ for treatment.

    Why is there such a wide ballpark estimate of the cost? When we generate a quote for root canal therapy we consider factors like:
  • The severity of the infection.
  • The location of the infection in your mouth.
  • The health of the surrounding teeth and gums.
  • Complications which may require more time or a delicate and experienced touch.

No dental practice can provide an accurate quote over the phone. Every case is different so it's important to speak with a dentist who can evaluate your unique situation and provide you with all your treatment options for your consideration.

Is there an alternative treatment to root canals?

An abscess or infection in your tooth is extremely dangerous and considered an urgent health matter. Many people think of root canals as some sort of ‘lesser evil’ to end excruciating dental pain. More important than that, root canals remove an infection that can spread and become life-threatening, requiring much more urgent and invasive care. This is why we work tirelessly to fight the reputation that root canal therapy has gained and why your comfort and peace-of-mind is so important to us.

If you think you may have an infection but you really don’t want a root canal, we strongly encourage you to reach out to us anyways. We will not perform any procedure without your full understanding and consent and may have alternative options for you with the ultimate goal of resolving your infection.

Contact us today

to schedule an initial consultation & exam.

Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Damage can occur due to deep decay, trauma, dead nerve, a loose filling or crown or a crack or chip in the tooth.
Thanks to modern techniques and technology and a compassionate dental philosophy our highly trained team of dentists and hygienists can provide root canal treatments with minimal to no pain at all.
By the time you realize you need a root canal, your tooth pulp and nerve have already begun to decay. This infected tissue will never fully heal and would only become infected again. Removing the pulp is the only safe option.
A root canal treatment usually requires one or two office visits. Simple or minor root canal cases usually take about 30 to 60 minutes of treatment, while a more complex case take longer-- around 90 minutes.
That depends on what sort of insurance coverage you have. After a consultation, we can provide you with an estimate to send to your provider. We strongly encourage you to make a root canal a high priority. Please speak to us if you feel any hesitation.
You typically need a dental crown after a root canal on your back grinding teeth, molars and premolars. Front teeth, canines, and incisors may not require a dental crown.

Google Verified Patient Reviews

I love Dr.Ball and Dr. Khoury and all the staff at Innes dental. I have been with them for over 15 years. They are always so friendly and wonderful to deal with them.
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Bruce Hoey
1 year ago
You won't find a better dental staff than Innes Dental group. I have been going for more than 20 years and Dr. Ball is the most gentle dentist I have come across. Today, Kelly was my hygienist. She was just as gentle and friendly. Thanks for many years of great service!
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Shandi
4 years ago
I had my first appointment at Innes Dental today! The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. Dr Khouri performs with a high degree of professionalism. I felt comfortable and taken care of during my visit- will definitely be returning again.
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I was Dr Ball’s patient from January 2001 until this year — I moved to Montreal in mid-March. Unfortunately I have had to seek a new Dental clinic in this location and it has made me truly realize how fortunate I (and my family) had been with Dr Ball all these years. Dr Ball and his hygienists, assistants and Catherine were wonderful and ensured that the experience with this dental clinic was always superb. Thank You for the great service! Mary Catherine Hung
More
I love Dr.Ball and Dr. Khoury and all the staff at Innes dental. I have been with them for over 15 years. They are always so friendly and wonderful to deal with them.
More
Bruce Hoey
1 year ago
You won't find a better dental staff than Innes Dental group. I have been going for more than 20 years and Dr. Ball is the most gentle dentist I have come across. Today, Kelly was my hygienist. She was just as gentle and friendly. Thanks for many years of great service!
More
Shandi
4 years ago
I had my first appointment at Innes Dental today! The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. Dr Khouri performs with a high degree of professionalism. I felt comfortable and taken care of during my visit- will definitely be returning again.
More
I was Dr Ball’s patient from January 2001 until this year — I moved to Montreal in mid-March. Unfortunately I have had to seek a new Dental clinic in this location and it has made me truly realize how fortunate I (and my family) had been with Dr Ball all these years. Dr Ball and his hygienists, assistants and Catherine were wonderful and ensured that the experience with this dental clinic was always superb. Thank You for the great service! Mary Catherine Hung
More
Innes Dental Health Group - Ottawa

Request an Appointment Today

Call 613-604-0413