Root Canal Therapy
Saving a tooth that would otherwise be pulled. Dr.
Root Canal Therapy at Brighter Smile
When decay or infection reaches the pulp inside a tooth, root canal therapy removes the infection and saves the tooth instead of pulling it. Dr. Behdad Moslehi graduated in dentistry in 1992, completed a specialty program in endodontics in 1998, and has focused on root canal therapy for more than 25 years. Where another dentist may say extraction is the only option, he will go out of his way to save the tooth. He is a member of the College of Dental Surgeons of BC, the American Association of Endodontists, and the BC Dental Association.
Keeping your own tooth is worth the appointment
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Cheaper over ten years
An extraction costs less today. Replacing the tooth properly with an implant and crown afterwards generally costs several times a root canal and crown.
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The bone stays loaded
A natural root keeps stimulating the jawbone. Remove the tooth and the bone beneath begins to resorb within months.
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Your bite stays put
Teeth drift into a gap. That changes how your bite meets and can make any later treatment more complicated and more expensive.
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Treated by an endodontist
A specialist in exactly this procedure, in-house, no referral across town and no waiting list at another clinic.
Root canal therapy, step by step
- 01
Diagnosis
X-rays map the root anatomy and show how far the infection has spread, so we know before we start whether the tooth is savable.
- 02
Anaesthetic
The tooth is thoroughly numbed. With modern anaesthetic the appointment feels much like having a filling placed.
- 03
Cleaning and sealing
The infected pulp is removed, the canals inside the root are cleaned and shaped, and the space is sealed to prevent reinfection.
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Protecting the tooth
A crown is usually fitted afterwards, because a treated tooth is more brittle and needs protecting to last.
You may need root canal therapy if…
Patients with a deep cavity, an abscess, persistent tooth pain, or a tooth another dentist has recommended extracting.
- You have persistent toothache, especially at night
- A tooth is painful to bite on or sensitive long after hot or cold
- There is swelling in the gum, or a small bump near the root
- A tooth has darkened compared with its neighbours
- Another dentist has told you extraction is your only option
What patients say about treatment here
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“Dr. Goshtasby is extremely professional. I usually hate going to the dentist, but he made the whole experience much easier for me. Breathing through my nose is very difficult, and he was very considerate of that throughout the procedure.”
Mary Taly Google review -
“I had a really good experience at this clinic and just wanted to say thank you to Dr. Farhad Goshtasby and his team. Dr. Farhad is very professional and knows exactly what he's doing, but at the same time he's calm and reassuring.”
Elmira Akbari Google review -
“Absolutely 5 stars! Dr. Farhad Goshtasby Ardekani is fantastic, professional, kind, and his calm demeanour means the world to me. He has always been super good at explaining what's going on with your teeth. My family and I have been his patients for 20 years.”
Mitra Moosavi Patient of 20 years
No. This is the most common misconception about the procedure. The pain people associate with root canals is the infection beforehand, not the treatment. The tooth is fully numbed and most patients say it felt much like having a filling. The relief afterwards is usually immediate.
Extraction is quicker and cheaper on the day, but it is rarely cheaper over ten years. Losing the root means the jawbone resorbs and neighbouring teeth drift, and replacing the tooth with an implant and crown costs several times a root canal and crown. We would keep the tooth where it can be kept.
Not necessarily. That judgement varies considerably with the clinician's training. Teeth other dentists have written off are often still salvageable by an endodontist. It is always reasonable to have someone with specialist training look before you agree to lose a tooth.
Many root canals are completed in a single visit; more complex or badly infected teeth may need two. You will be told which to expect after the x-rays, not partway through.
Usually, yes, particularly on back teeth that take chewing load. A treated tooth becomes more brittle, and a crown is what stops it fracturing later. We will explain if your case is one of the exceptions.
Other treatments we provide
Book root canal treatment
In pain, or been told a tooth has to go? Book an endodontic assessment at Brighter Smile before you agree to an extraction, the tooth may well be savable.