Root Canals

When tooth pain becomes unbearable, you need a solution that addresses the source of your discomfort while preserving your natural tooth. Root canal therapy is a highly effective dental procedure designed to eliminate infection, alleviate pain, and save teeth that might otherwise require extraction.

At Smile Haven, our experienced dentists, Dr. Mark Zavala and Dr. Stefhany Duque provide gentle, thorough root canal treatments serving cities like Orlando, Winter Park, and Kissimmee using advanced techniques and technology to ensure your comfort throughout the entire process.

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Understanding Root Canals

Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure that treats the infected or inflamed pulp inside your tooth. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue that can become infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures, cracks, or trauma.

During a root canal, we carefully remove the damaged pulp, clean and disinfect the inner chambers of the tooth, and seal it to prevent future infection. This treatment not only alleviates pain but also preserves your natural tooth structure, allowing you to maintain your healthy smile.

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Benefits of Root Canals

Prevents Jawbone Deterioration

Root canals preserve the tooth structure that stimulates your jawbone during chewing, preventing the bone loss that typically follows tooth extraction. This preservation maintains your facial structure and helps avoid the sunken appearance that can develop when teeth are missing.

Requires Fewer Dental Visits

Compared to tooth extraction and replacement options, root canal therapy typically requires fewer total appointments and less ongoing maintenance. Most root canals can be completed in just one or two visits, with only regular checkups needed afterward.

Restores Full Biting Force

After a root canal and proper restoration, your treated tooth can handle normal biting pressure, unlike some tooth replacement options that may limit your food choices. You’ll be able to enjoy your favorite foods without restrictions once healing is complete.

Enhances Smile Aesthetics

Root canals allow you to keep your natural tooth, maintaining your smile’s original appearance without visible gaps or artificial replacements. The crown placed after treatment can be color-matched to your existing teeth for a seamless look.

Promotes Better Digestion

By preserving your natural chewing ability, root canals help you thoroughly break down food before swallowing. This proper chewing function leads to better digestion and nutrient absorption, supporting your overall health.

Our Root Canal Process

Thorough Dental Examination

We begin with a detailed evaluation of your dental condition at our office. Our dentists examine your affected tooth, review your symptoms, and take precise digital X-rays to identify the exact location and extent of the infection. You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions about your root canal, and we’ll address any concerns you might have. This comprehensive assessment helps us create the most effective treatment approach for your specific situation.

Personalized Care Planning

After your examination, we develop a treatment strategy specifically designed for your tooth. We consider important factors like tooth location, infection severity, and your overall dental health when creating your plan. Our dentists will clearly explain each treatment step and any preparation needed beforehand. We believe you deserve complete transparency about your treatment timeline, expected results, and costs before proceeding with your root canal therapy.

Precise Treatment Delivery

Your comfort comes first during the root canal procedure. We use effective local anesthesia to ensure you won’t feel pain throughout the treatment. Our dentists create a small access point in your tooth, and then carefully remove the infected pulp using specialized instruments. We thoroughly clean and shape the root canals before filling them with a biocompatible material that seals the space and prevents reinfection. A protective temporary filling completes the procedure until your permanent restoration is ready.

Recovery Support & Home Care

We provide specific aftercare guidelines to support your healing process after treatment. Most patients experience only mild sensitivity for a few days, easily managed with regular pain relievers. Avoid chewing with the treated tooth until your permanent restoration is placed. Daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing with antimicrobial mouthwash will protect your treated tooth and promote healing. These simple practices significantly improve your root canal’s long-term success.

Restoration Completion

Your final appointment focuses on placing a permanent crown or filling that protects your treated tooth and restores normal function. This crucial restoration prevents bacteria from entering the tooth while providing the strength needed for everyday chewing and biting. We’ll check your healing progress and make any adjustments needed for your comfort during this visit. Our dental team will continue monitoring your treated tooth during routine checkups to ensure lasting results from your root canal treatment.

Why Choose Us for Root Canals

Smile Haven stands out through our unique blend of technical expertise and genuine care for your comfort during root canal treatment. Dr. Mark Zavala and Dr. Stefhany Duque have refined their endodontic techniques through years of specialized training and thousands of successful procedures, even for teeth with complex root structures.

Our patients consistently tell us they hardly felt a thing during their procedure, which contradicts the outdated reputation root canals still carry. We take time to listen to your concerns, explain your options in plain language, and ensure you never feel rushed through any part of your treatment—because we believe dental care works best when you feel genuinely respected and involved in your treatment decisions.

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FAQs

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure that removes infected tissue from inside your tooth’s pulp chamber and root canals. We clean and disinfect these inner spaces, then fill them with a biocompatible material that seals the tooth from future infection. This procedure saves your natural tooth structure while eliminating the source of pain, allowing you to keep your smile intact and functional.

How long does a root canal take?

Most root canals at Smile Haven take between 60-90 minutes to complete in a single appointment, with molar teeth typically taking longer than front teeth due to their multiple canals. Complex cases might require two separate visits—one for cleaning and a second for final sealing. We schedule appropriate time blocks based on your specific tooth needs so you’ll know exactly what to expect.

How much is a root canal?

Root canal costs typically range from $700-$1,500 depending on which tooth needs treatment, with molars costing more due to their complex canal systems. Many dental insurance plans cover 50-80% of root canal therapy as it’s classified as a necessary treatment rather than cosmetic care. Dr. Zavala and Dr. Duque at Smile Haven will provide a detailed cost breakdown during your consultation and explain payment options that work within your budget.

Do root canals hurt?

Modern root canal procedures at Smile Haven are performed with profound local anesthesia that ensures you feel no pain during treatment. Many patients report being surprised by how comfortable they feel, often comparing the sensation to having a routine filling placed. Any post-treatment discomfort is typically mild and manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers for a day or two—nothing like the severe toothache that brought you in for treatment.

How do I know if I need a root canal?

Persistent tooth pain, especially when biting down or pressing on the tooth, often signals the need for root canal therapy. Other common indicators include prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, darkening of the tooth, swelling or tenderness in nearby gums, or a small pimple-like bump on the gum near the painful tooth. Regular checkups with our Smile Haven team can catch many of these issues early, sometimes before you even experience symptoms, which typically results in simpler treatment with faster recovery.

Get Relief Now!

That persistent tooth pain doesn’t have to control your life another day. A properly performed root canal eliminates infection at its source while preserving your natural tooth—no more wincing during meals or interrupted sleep from throbbing pain.

Call Dr. Mark Zavala or Dr. Stefhany Duque directly at Smile Haven, 407-851-4588, to schedule your examination this week and discover how our precision-focused approach makes modern root canal treatment remarkably comfortable with lasting results.