Modern rotary endodontics to remove infected pulp, clean the canal, and seal the tooth — usually saving you from extraction. Available under IV moderate sedation for anxious patients. Followed by a same-day crown to protect the treated tooth.
Book a root canal consultation
If you've been told you need a root canal, you're probably worried about the procedure itself. Most of that worry comes from outdated stories about how root canals used to feel decades ago — before rotary endodontics, before modern anesthetic, before sedation. The reality is much closer to having a deep filling than to what your grandparents went through.
When the pulp inside a tooth (the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels) becomes infected or inflamed — usually from deep decay, a crack, or trauma — root canal treatment removes the affected tissue, cleans and shapes the inside of the tooth, and seals it with a biocompatible filling material. The treated tooth stays in place, and once protected with a crown afterward, can function normally for the rest of your life. The American Association of Endodontists has detailed patient information on the procedure.
At Suncoast we use rotary endodontics — the modern technique that replaces hand files with flexible mechanical instruments. The result is more efficient treatment, better canal cleaning, and a more comfortable experience for the patient. We also offer IV moderate sedation for patients who'd prefer to be deeply relaxed throughout, and on-site general anesthesia for complex multi-tooth cases that benefit from a single-visit approach.
After root canal treatment, the treated tooth needs to be protected with a crown — the loss of the pulp leaves the tooth more brittle, and without a crown it's more likely to fracture. Suncoast offers same-day 3D-printed crowns from our on-site SprintRay lab, so for many patients the root canal and the protective crown can be completed in the same visit or the next.
Most root canals complete in 1 to 2 appointments of about an hour each, depending on tooth location and complexity.
X-ray confirms the infection and identifies canal anatomy. We discuss sedation options and confirm coverage with your insurance or CDCP.
Local anesthetic fully numbs the tooth and surrounding tissue. If you've chosen IV sedation, the sedation provider starts your sedation now. You feel nothing for the rest of the procedure.
A small opening through the top of the tooth gives access to the pulp chamber. Using rotary instruments, we remove the infected pulp and clean and shape the canal — typically 45 to 60 minutes of working time.
Once the canal is clean and shaped, it's filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha that seals the space against future infection.
The treated tooth needs a crown to protect it from fracture. Same-day 3D-printed crowns from our on-site lab let many patients complete the entire process in the same visit; traditional lab crowns take a follow-up appointment 2–3 weeks later.
Common questions when researching root canal treatment.
We'll review your case, discuss sedation options, and walk you through what modern root canal treatment actually feels like. Free consultation, transparent pricing.