Getting you out of pain without taking the tooth out
Deep inside every tooth is a small chamber of nerve and blood vessels. When decay or a crack reaches it, the tissue gets infected, and that’s the throbbing you feel. A root canal removes the infected tissue, cleans and seals the canals, and leaves the tooth in place. A crown usually goes on top afterward to protect it.
As your Portland root canal dentist, Dr. Cho works under a dental microscope, which makes it easier to find every canal, including the narrow ones that are easy to miss with the naked eye.
What a root canal gets you
The pain stops, usually within a day or two- You keep your own tooth instead of replacing it
- No gap, no shifting neighbors, no implant or bridge to plan
- Nitrous available if the idea of the appointment is the hard part
What to expect
-
Diagnosis
A digital x-ray and, when needed, a 3D scan show where the infection is and how far it reaches.
-
Treatment
We numb and isolate your tooth. Dr. Cho removes the infected tissue, cleans and shapes the canals, and seals them. Most single-tooth root canals finish in one visit.
-
Restoring the tooth
A treated tooth is more brittle than it was. A crown, made from a digital scan rather than impression trays, protects it for the long run.
Why Portland patients choose Life Bloom Dental for root canals
-
Microscope precision
Magnification lets Dr. Cho see and treat canals that a standard view can miss, which is what makes the difference between a root canal that holds and one that doesn’t.
-
No referral to an endodontist
Diagnosis, treatment, and the crown all happen here, with the dentist who already knows your history.
-
Comfort for the anxious
Headphones, a weighted blanket, a TV on the ceiling, and nitrous that wears off before you drive home.
Paying for root canals
-
With insurance
Most dental plans cover part of a root canal. We’re in-network with a number of them and check your benefits before anything starts.
-
No insurance?
Members of the Life Bloom Dental Membership Club get a discount on treatment. Cherry Finance spreads the cost of the root canal and crown over monthly payments.
Questions people ask about root canals in Portland
Does a root canal hurt?
The area is fully numbed, so the procedure itself feels like a long filling. Most of the pain people associate with root canals is the infection beforehand, and that’s what the treatment ends.
How long does it take a Portland root canal dentist to finish?
Most single-tooth root canals take one appointment of about 60 to 90 minutes. Molars with extra canals can take a second visit. You’ll know the plan before we start.
Can I wait and see if the pain goes away?
The pain sometimes fades when the nerve dies, but the infection doesn’t. Left alone, it can spread to the bone and turn a root canal into an extraction.
How do I know if I need a root canal?
Pain when you bite, sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the drink is gone, a pimple-like bump on the gum, or a tooth that has darkened. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all, and it shows up on an x-ray. Either way, the exam tells us.
Is a root canal better than pulling the tooth?
Usually, yes. A Portland root canal dentist can often save the tooth for less than the cost of an extraction plus an implant, and you keep your own root holding the bone in place. If the tooth is too damaged to save, Dr. Cho will tell you and lay out the replacement options.
Don’t wait for the swelling
Call and describe what’s happening. We keep room in the schedule for pain that won’t settle.
Visit us in Portland
Hablamos español. Call or stop by, and we'll help you in Spanish or English.
11786 SW Barnes Rd, Ste 340
Portland, OR 97225
Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed Friday through Sunday.