At a glance
A root canal removes infected or inflamed tissue (the pulp) from inside a tooth, cleans and seals the canals, and lets you keep the tooth instead of having it pulled. We do root canals in our Richmond office, including molars, starting at $899.
Most root canals take one or two visits under local anesthetic. Back teeth usually need a crown afterward to protect them. Saturday appointments are available.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Visits | Usually 1–2 visits, plus crown visits if the tooth needs one |
| Numbing | Local anesthetic to numb the area; you stay awake and comfortable |
| Price | Starting at $899 (see dental prices); crowns start at $1,199 |
| Which teeth | Front teeth, premolars and molars, all in-office |
| Insurance | All PPO plans (benefits checked before your visit), Medicare Advantage plans with dental benefits, and Texas Medicaid/CHIP for children (DentaQuest, MCNA, UHC Dental) |
| Saturday appointments | Yes, Saturdays 9am–3pm, plus Tuesday and Wednesday |
Do you need a root canal?
Only an exam and X-ray can confirm it, but these are the signs patients most often describe before a root canal:
- A toothache that throbs, wakes you at night or comes back again and again
- Pain with hot or cold that lingers for a while after the food or drink is gone
- Pain when you bite down or press on one tooth
- A pimple-like bump on the gum near a tooth, sometimes with a bad taste
- Swelling of the gum or face near a tooth
- A tooth that has turned darker after an injury
- A deep cavity or crack that a filling can no longer fix
Sometimes an infected tooth has no symptoms at all and shows up on an X-ray at a routine exam and cleaning.
What happens at your root canal visit?
- We examine the tooth and take an X-ray to see the roots and any infection around them.
- The tooth and gum are numbed with local anesthetic. We check that the area is numb before starting.
- A thin rubber sheet (a dental dam) isolates the tooth and keeps it clean and dry.
- We make a small opening in the top of the tooth and remove the infected or inflamed pulp.
- The canals are cleaned, shaped and rinsed, then filled with a rubber-like material and sealed.
- A temporary filling closes the tooth. If the tooth needs a crown, we take impressions at the same or a later visit, and the final crown is placed about 5 days later. Our guide to how our two-visit crowns work explains the timing.
For how long each step takes, see our guide How long does a root canal take?.
Cost, insurance and financing
Root canals start at $899. The final price depends on which tooth it is, since molars have more canals than front teeth, and whether the tooth needs a crown afterward. Crowns start at $1,199. We give you a written estimate before we start; see dental prices.
Most PPO plans and Medicare Advantage plans with dental benefits help pay for this kind of treatment. We check your benefits before your visit and tell you what your plan is likely to cover, so the number you see is close to the number you pay. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover routine dental care. Texas Medicaid/CHIP is accepted for children only. We treat children in our office from age 1 and refer to a pediatric dentist only if a child needs to be sedated for treatment. See our insurance page for details.
We accept Cherry, Sunbit and CareCredit for patient financing (see financing options), and you can use an FSA or HSA card for dental treatment.
Recovery and aftercare
Once the numbness wears off, the tooth may feel sore or tender to bite on for a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers usually help; follow the directions on the package or from your dentist. Chew on the other side until the final filling or crown is in place, because a treated tooth without a crown can crack.
Our root canal aftercare instructions cover what is normal and what is not, day by day.
What are the alternatives to a root canal?
| Option | What it involves | Things to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Root canal and crown | Saves your own tooth and root | Usually the least disruptive way to keep your bite as it is |
| Extraction, then an implant | Tooth removed, implant placed after healing | More visits and a longer timeline; written estimate |
| Extraction, then a bridge | Tooth removed, gap filled by a 3-unit bridge | Neighboring teeth are shaped for crowns; starting at $3,499 |
| Extraction only | Tooth removed, gap left open | Lowest cost now; nearby teeth can drift and chewing may be harder |
When to call us
Call us if you have a toothache that keeps you awake, pain when you bite, a bump on your gum or swelling near a tooth. We see dental emergencies the same day during office hours; please call first. If facial swelling is spreading or you have trouble breathing or swallowing or a high fever, go to the ER or call 911. Call (832) 612-2831 — we’re open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9am–3pm.
Why patients in Richmond choose us
- Saturday appointments from 9am to 3pm, plus Tuesday and Wednesday, so treatment does not have to mean a day off work (Saturday dentist in Richmond).
- Published self-pay prices for common treatment and a written estimate for everything else, with insurance benefits checked before your visit.
- Root canals on molars as well as front teeth are done in our office, so most patients do not need a separate referral, and root canals are part of our restorative dentistry.
- Two dentists, Dr. Arpitkumar Patel and Dr. Harsh Patel, and a team that speaks English, Spanish, Gujarati and Hindi.
Related guides
- How long does a root canal take?
- Root canal treatment is about relief, not pain
- Root canal recovery tips: what’s normal and what to do
- Can popping a gum abscess kill you? Why to leave it to a dentist
Frequently asked questions
The tooth is numbed with local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure rather than pain during treatment. The pain people link with root canals usually comes from the infection beforehand. Some soreness for a few days afterward is normal.
Back teeth almost always do, because they take heavy chewing forces and become more brittle after treatment. Some front teeth can be closed with a filling instead. Your dentist will tell you which applies to your tooth.
Most people return to normal activities the same day. Your lip and cheek may stay numb for a few hours, so wait until the numbness wears off before eating.
Antibiotics can help with a spreading infection, but they cannot clean out the inside of the tooth. Without a root canal or extraction, the infection usually returns.
Yes. We see patients on Saturdays from 9am to 3pm. If you are in pain, call us that morning and we will try to see you the same day.