If you have been told you need a root canal, the most reassuring thing to know is that the procedure is designed to end dental pain, not cause it. Root canal therapy removes inflamed or infected tissue from inside the tooth, disinfects and seals the inner canals, and preserves your natural tooth so you can keep chewing, speaking, and smiling as before. At Parsons Smile Center, Dr. Fady Salha provides root canal therapy for patients across NYC from our Flushing, Queens and Midtown East, Manhattan offices, using digital imaging, modern rotary instruments, and profound local anesthesia so the visit can feel closer to a long filling appointment than to the outdated stories many patients remember.
What root canal therapy involves at Parsons Smile Center
Deep decay, a crack, or an old injury can allow bacteria to reach the pulp, the soft bundle of nerves and blood vessels at the center of a tooth. Once the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, it rarely heals on its own, and the result is often the throbbing, temperature-sensitive ache most people picture when they hear the word toothache. Root canal therapy treats the source of that pain directly: the affected tissue is gently removed, the canals are carefully cleaned, shaped, and disinfected, and the space is sealed with a biocompatible filling material to help prevent reinfection.
Whenever it is a sound option, we believe keeping your natural tooth is the healthiest choice. A successfully treated tooth can preserve your bite, keep neighboring teeth from shifting, and spare you the additional steps that come with extraction and replacement.
Your treatment, visit by visit
Every case starts with a thorough exam and digital X-rays so Dr. Salha can confirm that root canal therapy is truly the right treatment, explain what he sees, and answer your questions before anything begins.
- Diagnosis and planning. We test the tooth, review your imaging together, and map out the number of canals and any anatomical complexity before your treatment visit.
- Comfortable treatment. The tooth is fully numbed and isolated, then the canals are cleaned, shaped, and sealed. Many teeth can be completed in a single visit; more complex cases may need two.
- Temporary protection. The access opening is closed with a temporary filling while the tooth settles, and we check in on how you are feeling.
- Final restoration. Most treated back teeth are best protected long term with a custom crown, which restores full strength and a natural appearance. You can learn more on our crowns and bridges page.
Why NYC patients choose Dr. Salha for root canal therapy
Root canal treatment rewards precision and patience, and Dr. Fady Salha, DMD, brings both. He earned his dental degree from Boston University and serves as a clinical instructor at the NYU College of Dentistry, where he helps train the next generation of dentists in the same techniques he uses chairside. That academic grounding means your treatment reflects current, evidence-based methods rather than habit.
With offices in Flushing, Queens and Midtown East, Manhattan, care is easy to reach whether you live in Queens or work in the heart of the city, and the same doctor follows your tooth from diagnosis through the final restoration.
Do you need root canal therapy? Signs and aftercare
Only an exam can confirm the diagnosis, but certain symptoms make it worth calling promptly: lingering pain after hot or cold, pain when biting down, a darkening tooth, swelling near the gumline, or a small pimple-like bump on the gums. If you are in severe pain or have facial swelling, please treat it as urgent; our emergency dentistry team reserves time for same-day concerns.
After treatment, mild tenderness for a few days is normal and can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Chew on the opposite side until your permanent restoration is placed, keep up gentle brushing and flossing, and attend your follow-up visit so we can confirm the tooth is healing well.
Root canal therapy FAQs
Does a root canal hurt?
With modern anesthesia and technique, most patients report that treatment feels similar to having a filling placed. The procedure is actually how we relieve the pain an infected tooth causes, and many people feel dramatically better within a day or two.
How long does root canal treatment take?
Most appointments run about 60 to 90 minutes. Front teeth with a single canal are often finished in one visit, while molars with several canals may be scheduled across two visits for the most careful result.
Is it better to save the tooth or pull it?
In most cases where a tooth can be predictably treated, saving it is preferable: nothing replaces a natural root’s feel and function. During your consultation at either our Flushing or Midtown East office, Dr. Salha will review your imaging with you and recommend the option that best protects your long-term oral health.
