Surgical & Endodontic Care

Root Canals Deserve a Better Reputation

The dread attached to root canals is largely inherited from decades ago. What actually causes the pain people associate with the procedure is the infection in the tooth beforehand. The treatment is how that pain ends. Inside every tooth is soft pulp containing the nerve and blood supply; when decay or a crack lets bacteria reach it, the result is the kind of throbbing ache that keeps you awake. A root canal removes the damaged pulp, disinfects the canals, and seals the tooth so it can stay in your mouth and keep working.

With local anesthetic, you will not feel anything during the procedure. Mild soreness for a few days afterward is normal and usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. Saving a natural tooth is almost always preferable to removing it, because nothing replaces a natural tooth quite as well as the tooth itself.

When a Tooth Cannot Be Saved

Sometimes the fracture is too deep, the bone support is gone, or infection has done too much damage. In that case we will tell you plainly rather than talking you into a treatment likely to fail, and we will go through replacement options: a dental implant, a bridge, or a partial denture, including realistic timelines and costs.

If the Pain Is Severe *

Call (604) 238-6666 as early in the day as you can. Severe swelling, especially any swelling affecting your eye, throat, or breathing, needs urgent attention the same day. That is not a wait-and-see situation. If a tooth has been knocked out, keep it moist, handle it by the crown rather than the root, and get to us immediately; the window for successfully replanting it is short. Our emergency dental care page has more on urgent visits.

For Anxious Patients

Tell us about previous bad experiences when you book, because it genuinely changes how we run the appointment. We explain each step before doing it, work at your pace, and stop when you need us to. Our treatment rooms use a surgically clean air system, and every instrument is sterilized in-house.

Afterward

You will leave knowing exactly what recovery should look like, what is normal, and what is not, so nothing catches you off guard at home, and you know when to call us.

Cost, Insurance, and CDCP

Root canal and surgical treatment follow the same standard BCDA fee guide as everything else here, with no markup. We accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan and most major insurance plans, bill providers directly, and give you an upfront estimate before treatment begins. Root canals and extractions are commonly covered treatments, and we will confirm your specific coverage before you commit.

Root Canal Treatment in Richmond, BC

We are at 6011 No. 1 Road, Unit 120, in Terra Nova, Richmond, with free on-site parking. Open Tuesday through Saturday, including Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Our team speaks English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Farsi, which matters a great deal when you are in pain and trying to describe it. Call (604) 238-6666 or book online to ask about a root canal or extraction.

Common Questions

My tooth hurts badly right now. Can you see me today? *

Often, yes, for new and existing patients, including Saturdays. Call early in the day for the best chance of a slot. Our emergency dental care page explains what to do in the meantime.

Does a root canal hurt?

The tooth is fully numbed, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain. The procedure relieves the pain you arrived with.

How long does a root canal take?

Commonly one to two appointments of roughly sixty to ninety minutes, depending on the tooth and how many canals it has.

Should I get a root canal or just have the tooth pulled?

Saving the tooth is usually the better long-term choice: extraction leads to bone loss and the cost of replacement. But it depends on how much healthy tooth remains, and we will give you an honest assessment either way.

My tooth stopped hurting on its own. Am I fine?

Not necessarily. Pain sometimes stops because the nerve has died, while the infection continues quietly. It still needs looking at.

Will I need a crown after a root canal?

Often yes, particularly on back teeth, because a treated tooth is more brittle and a crown protects it from fracturing.

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* Same-day and emergency appointments are not always guaranteed.