Northern Smiles Dentistry Root Canal
Root Canals in North Phoenix, AZ
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Cutting-Edge Technology
When you visit our team at Northern Smiles Dentistry, we only utilize the best material available to ensure that your restorations are here to stay.
Affordable Treatments
A root canal is far more affordable than losing the tooth and replacing it later. We offer fair pricing and CareCredit financing so you can save your natural tooth without financial stress.
Flexible Scheduling
Tooth pain shouldn't have to wait. We make room in our schedule to get you in promptly and relieve your discomfort as soon as possible.
What is a root canal, and does it hurt?
A root canal treats infection inside a tooth. The pulp — the soft tissue holding the nerve and blood supply — is removed, the canal is cleaned and sealed, and the tooth is saved rather than extracted. Signs you may need one include severe or lingering tooth pain, sensitivity to hot and cold, swelling, or a tooth that is darkening; only an exam and X-ray can confirm it. Modern root canals are done under local anaesthetic and are no more uncomfortable than having a filling — the procedure relieves the pain the infected tooth is causing. Most are completed in one or two visits, after which the tooth usually needs a crown to protect it long term. A root canal in Phoenix costs roughly $599 – $2,000 depending on the tooth, and saving the tooth is usually less expensive than extraction and replacement.
Tissues and Structure
What is Endodontics?
Endodontics is the dental specialty that deals with tissues and structures located inside the tooth. One of the most common endodontic treatments is root canal therapy, a procedure which effectively eases the pain associated with a bacterial infection deep within the pulp of the tooth. Of course, root canal treatment doesn’t just relieve pain — it also stops the infection by removing dead and dying tissue from the tooth’s pulp. Plus, it helps to save the tooth, which is in danger of being lost if left untreated.
Yet root canal therapy isn’t the only treatment endodontics offers. This field also deals with cases of dental trauma, performs microsurgery on the tips of the tooth’s roots, and even helps figure out what’s going on when tooth pain seems to come and go intermittently, or when the pain isn’t localized at one tooth. So when it comes to preserving your natural teeth, endodontics has plenty of ways to help.
The Inside Story
What's Inside Your Teeth?
Behind the tough, shiny enamel of the tooth’s visible crown lies the sturdy inner tissue called dentin. Dentin is also found behind the cementum that forms the outer layer of the tooth’s roots — in fact, it makes up the bulk of the tooth’s structure. Similar in many ways to bone tissue, dentin is composed of many tiny tubules which can transmit sensations to nerve cells when it is stimulated.
At the core of the tooth, inside small, branching chambers called the root canals, we find the soft pulp tissue. This consists of nerves, connective tissues and blood vessels which extend into the center of the tooth and exit through canals near the apex (tip) of the tooth’s roots. When problems (such as infection and inflammation) develop in the pulp tissue, your first indication of trouble may be tooth sensitivity — or intense pain. In time, as the nerves die, the pain may go away… but the problem won’t. In fact, if left untreated, the end result may be tooth loss.
The “Root” Of The Problem
What causes the pulp to become infected?
A root canal is a procedure designed to treat a tooth that has been infected. Removing the damage reduces the chance of reinfection and can save your natural tooth. By removing the infected area of the tooth and restoring your nerve, blood vessels, and tissue, you can extend the life of your natural tooth.
Untreated Tooth Decay
One potential source of infection is untreated tooth decay, which can allow bacteria from the tooth’s surface to work its way deep inside. A crack or fracture in a tooth could offer another pathway for microorganisms to infect the pulp.
Dental Trauma
Dental trauma — from a sports injury, for example — may also damage dentin or pulp, or expose it to infection. Extensive dental procedures (such as multiple fillings or restorations on the same tooth) may cause trouble; occasionally, even routine procedures like orthodontics may eventually lead to root canal problems.
Root Canal
What happens during endodontic treatment?
The old gag line “I’d rather have a root canal” may still get a laugh — but root canal problems are no joke. It’s important to remember that root canal treatment doesn’t cause pain; it relieves pain. A typical root canal procedure is performed with local anesthetics, and doesn’t cause any more discomfort than having a filling. Here’s what to expect:
Local Anesthesia
First, you will receive anesthesia (usually a numbing shot) — and for many patients, the worst is now over.
The Procedure
Next, a small opening is made in the tooth surface to give access to the pulp chamber and root canals. Then, tiny instruments are used — often with the aid of a microscope — to remove dead and dying tissue from inside the narrow passages. These passages are then cleaned, disinfected, and filled with a safe, inert material. Finally, the opening in the tooth is sealed to prevent contamination.
Cost & Insurance
How Much Does a Root Canal Cost in Phoenix?
Root canal treatment at Northern Smiles starts at $599. Across the Phoenix area the typical range runs from about $599 to $2,000, and where your tooth falls in that range depends mostly on which tooth it is and how many canals it has.
What Drives the Price
A front tooth has a single canal and usually runs around $800 without insurance. A molar has three or four canals, takes longer, and averages closer to $1,200 without insurance.
Costs People Forget to Budget For
The root canal itself is often not the whole bill. A post and core buildup, needed to rebuild a tooth with a lot of structure missing, runs about $200 to $375. Most treated teeth also need a crown afterward to keep them from fracturing. We quote all of it up front rather than letting it arrive as a surprise.
With Insurance
Most PPO plans cover a meaningful share of root canal treatment. With coverage, out-of-pocket commonly lands between $0 and $800 for a front tooth and $0 and $1,200 for a molar, depending on your plan and remaining annual maximum. We accept most PPO plans and offer CareCredit financing — see insurance and financing options.
These are ranges, not a quote. Bring us your plan details and we will tell you your actual number before you commit. For a fuller breakdown, read our guide to root canal costs in Phoenix.
| Tooth type | Cost without insurance | Cost with insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Front tooth — single canal | about $800 | $0 – $800 |
| Molar — three or four canals | about $1,200 | $0 – $1,200 |
| Phoenix range, all teeth | $599 – $2,000 | Varies by plan and annual maximum |
A post and core build-up, when the tooth needs one to hold a crown, adds $200 – $375.
What should you expect after a root canal?
Most root canals are finished in one or two visits. Once the canal has been cleaned and sealed, the tooth usually needs a restoration — most often a crown — to return it to full function and protect it from splitting under bite force. That is a separate appointment, and it matters: a treated tooth left without a crown is more likely to fracture.
Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal, particularly if the tooth was badly infected beforehand, and it settles as the surrounding tissue calms down. Other endodontic treatments may be recommended alongside it to remove remaining sources of infection and prevent the problem recurring.
After that, a restored tooth cared for like any other — brushed, flossed, and checked at your regular visits — should last many years.
Root canal or extraction: which is cheaper in the long run?
When a tooth is badly infected there are two options: treat it and keep it, or remove it and replace it. The removal looks cheaper on the day and usually is not.
| Root canal | Extraction and replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost in Phoenix | $599 – $2,000, plus a crown | The extraction, then $3,000 – $6,000 for an implant and crown |
| Visits | Usually one or two, plus a visit for the crown | Extraction, healing time, then the implant sequence over several months |
| Outcome | You keep the natural tooth and its root | The natural tooth is gone; the replacement is very good but is not the original |
| Bone | The root stays, so the bone around it keeps its shape | Bone recedes where a tooth is missing unless an implant replaces the root |
That is why we treat saving the tooth as the default and only recommend removing one when it genuinely cannot be kept. See what a root canal costs in Phoenix, or dental implants if the tooth is already beyond saving.
Getting seen quickly in North Phoenix
Nobody plans a root canal, and when the pain starts the only question that matters is how soon somebody can look at it. We are on 16th Street between Glendale and Northern Avenues, within a short drive of Sunnyslope, North Mountain and most of 85020, and we keep weekday time open for patients in pain. Directions and hours are on our North Phoenix dental office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a root canal hurt? +
Modern root canals are done under local anesthesia and are no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. The procedure actually relieves the pain caused by the infected tooth.
How do I know if I need a root canal? +
Signs include severe or lingering tooth pain, sensitivity to hot and cold, swelling, or a darkening tooth. Only an exam and X-ray can confirm it, so call us if you have these symptoms.
How much does a root canal cost in Phoenix? +
Cost depends on which tooth is involved and the complexity of the canal. We provide an estimate at your visit and offer financing — and saving the tooth is usually less expensive than extraction and replacement.
How long does a root canal take? +
Most root canals are completed in one or two visits. After the canal is cleaned and sealed, the tooth typically needs a crown to protect it long term.
What happens if I don't treat an infected tooth? +
Left untreated, the infection can spread, cause an abscess, and lead to losing the tooth. Prompt treatment relieves pain and saves the natural tooth.
Related reading
Answers to the questions patients ask us most about this treatment.
How much does a root canal cost in Phoenix?
Discover the average cost of a root canal in Phoenix. Find out factors affecting pricing and options for affordable root canal expenses in your area.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Troy Stansberry, D.D.S.
Dr. Troy Stansberry grew up in Phoenix, AZ and attended Creighton University for his bachelors, and Creighton School of Dentistry for his D.D.S. degree.
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Opening Hours
- Monday 07:30 AM - 4:00 PM
- Tuesday 08:30 AM - 5:30 PM
- Wednesday 07:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Thursday 07:30 AM - 3:00 PM
- Friday 07:30 AM - 2:00 PM
- Saturday - Sunday Closed
