If a tooth is infected or severely decayed, root canal therapy can relieve pain, stop the infection, and help you avoid extraction.
When decay or infection reaches the inner pulp of a tooth, the pain can be intense, and the risk of losing the tooth entirely becomes very real. Root canal therapy removes the infected tissue, cleans out the tooth from the inside, and seals it to prevent further damage, so you can keep your natural tooth instead of having it pulled.
Dr. Yazan Alkhawam performs most of the root canals he sees, bringing hands-on experience to a procedure many patients feel nervous about. That familiarity means fewer surprises and a steadier hand guiding you through a treatment that has a reputation far scarier than the reality.
The goal is not just to fix the tooth. It is to get you out of pain quickly and help you understand what caused the infection in the first place. Dr. Yazan takes the time to walk you through what happened and what it will take to keep it from happening again, so you leave with real answers, not just a treated tooth.
Tooth infections don’t always announce themselves clearly, but there are common warning signs worth watching for. You may need a root canal if you are experiencing:
If any of these sound familiar, it is worth getting checked out soon. Untreated infections do not go away on their own and can lead to more serious complications.
Step One: Numbing The Area
Dr. Yazan thoroughly numbs the tooth and surrounding area before beginning, so the procedure is far more comfortable than most patients expect.
Step Two: Removing The Infection
The infected or inflamed pulp inside the tooth is carefully removed, along with any bacteria causing the pain and infection.
Step Three: Cleaning And Sealing
The inside of the tooth is cleaned, shaped, and sealed to prevent bacteria from returning and causing further infection.
Step Four: Protecting The Tooth
In many cases, a crown is placed over the treated tooth afterward to restore its strength and protect it for the long term.
Most of what people fear about root canals comes from outdated stories, not the actual procedure. Here are straight answers to the questions we hear most often.
Modern root canal therapy is done with local anesthesia, and most patients report feeling about the same as they would during a routine filling. The infection causing your pain is often more uncomfortable than the treatment itself.
Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two, with some mild soreness that typically resolves within a week.
Often, yes. A treated tooth can become more brittle over time, so a crown is frequently recommended to protect it and restore its full strength.
