No. The procedure is performed under thorough local anesthesia, and most patients compare it to getting a routine filling. The pain associated with root canals comes from the infection beforehand, which the treatment removes. Mild soreness for a few days afterward is normal.

What happens if a root canal is delayed?

The infection can spread into the jawbone, form an abscess, and eventually make the tooth unsavable. Antibiotics can calm a flare-up but cannot cure the infection inside the tooth.

Restorative & Implants

Root Canal Treatment in Mundelein, IL — Relieve the Pain, Save the Tooth

Q: How long does a root canal take?

Typically one to two appointments of about 60 to 90 minutes each, depending on the tooth. Front teeth have one canal while molars have three or more, and a protective crown is usually placed at a separate visit.

Q: Do I need a crown after a root canal?

For back teeth, almost always, because a treated tooth is more brittle and molars take the heaviest chewing forces. Front teeth can sometimes be restored with a filling alone.

Q: Can I go back to work after a root canal?

Usually, yes. Patients can drive themselves home and resume normal activities the same day, with numbness for a few hours and mild soreness rather than downtime.

Q: How much does a root canal cost?

Cost varies by tooth, with molars costing more than front teeth, plus the crown that typically follows. Most dental benefits plans cover a portion of treatment, and an itemized estimate is provided after the exam.

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The short version

A root canal removes infected tissue from inside a tooth, cleans and seals the root canals, and saves the natural tooth from extraction — and despite its reputation, the procedure doesn’t cause pain. It relieves it. At Markiewicz Dental in Mundelein, IL, root canal treatment is performed with modern techniques and thorough anesthesia, and many patients tell us afterward it felt no different than getting a filling.

If you’re dealing with a severe toothache, sensitivity that lingers long after the hot or cold is gone, or swelling around a tooth, don’t wait it out — that pain is usually an infection talking, and a root canal may be exactly what gets you out of pain while keeping your tooth.

Medically reviewed by the doctors of Markiewicz Dental

When Is a Root Canal Needed?

Inside every tooth is a soft core called the pulp — nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When bacteria reach it through deep decay, a crack, or an injury, the pulp becomes infected, and that infection is what causes the notorious root-canal-level pain. The treatment removes the infected pulp, cleans and disinfects the canals inside the roots, and seals them — eliminating the infection at its source and saving a tooth that would otherwise need to come out.

What Are the Signs You Might Need a Root Canal?

Only an exam and X-ray can say for sure, but these are the classic warning signs:

Severe, persistent toothache — especially when chewing or applying pressure
Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the source is gone
Darkening or discoloration of a single tooth
Swelling or tenderness in the nearby gums
A persistent pimple-like bump on the gums
Pain in a cracked tooth

One caution from experience: if severe tooth pain suddenly disappears on its own, that’s often the nerve dying — not the problem resolving. The infection is still there and still spreading. Get the tooth checked even though it stopped hurting.

What Happens During a Root Canal?

It starts with thorough local anesthesia — you’ll be fully numb before anything else happens. Your dentist then makes a small opening in the top of the tooth, removes the infected pulp, and carefully cleans and shapes the canals inside each root. The canals are filled with a biocompatible material and the tooth is sealed. In most cases, a crown is recommended afterward: a root-canal-treated tooth is more brittle than a living one, and the crown is what protects it for the decades ahead. Most root canals are completed in one or two appointments, and you can drive yourself home after either.

Root Canal vs. Extraction — Why Save the Tooth?

When it’s possible, saving your natural tooth is almost always the better call. Nothing replaces a natural tooth perfectly: extraction starts the bone loss that follows every missing tooth, invites neighboring teeth to shift, and trades one procedure for a longer, costlier road of implants or bridges. A root canal followed by a crown can keep your own tooth working for life with proper care. There are cases where a tooth genuinely can’t be saved — and if yours is one, we’ll say so plainly and walk you through the replacement options honestly.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canals

Do root canals hurt?

The procedure itself, no — you’re thoroughly numbed, and most patients compare the experience to a routine filling. The pain associated with root canals is the pain of the infection before treatment, which the root canal removes. Some soreness for a few days afterward is normal and manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers.

How long does a root canal take?

Typically one to two appointments, depending on the tooth — front teeth have one canal, molars have three or more, and more canals mean more cleaning time. A single visit usually runs about an hour to ninety minutes. If a crown follows, that’s scheduled as its own visit.

Do I really need a crown after a root canal?

For back teeth, almost always — a treated tooth no longer has its living core, which leaves it more brittle, and molars take the heaviest chewing forces. The crown is what keeps the saved tooth from cracking later. Front teeth sometimes do fine with just a filling; we’ll tell you which camp your tooth is in.

What happens if I put off a root canal?

The infection doesn’t wait with you. It can spread into the jawbone, form an abscess, and eventually cost you a tooth that was savable — sometimes escalating into swelling that needs urgent care. Antibiotics alone can calm a flare-up but can’t cure the infection inside the tooth; only treatment removes the source.

Can I go back to work after a root canal?

Usually, yes — you can drive yourself and return to normal activities the same day. Your mouth will be numb for a few hours, so plan lunch accordingly, and expect mild soreness rather than downtime. Chew on the other side until your permanent crown or filling is in place.

How much does a root canal cost?

It varies by tooth — molars cost more than front teeth because they take longer — plus the crown that typically follows. Most dental benefits plans cover a meaningful portion of root canal treatment. You’ll get a clear, itemized picture after your exam, and it’s worth comparing against the honest alternative: extraction plus replacement usually costs more in the end, not less.

Patient reviews

From people who had this done here.

I have been a patient here for over twenty years and I would not go anywhere else. Everyone knows my name the moment I walk in, and the care has always been thorough and completely honest.

Donna W.Verified Google review

Dr. Markiewicz walked me through my implant plan on a 3D scan so I understood exactly what would happen. The surgery was far easier than I expected and the tooth looks completely natural.

Catherine P.Verified Google review

I used to dread the dentist. This office changed that. They explained every step, checked in constantly, and never once made me feel rushed or judged about the work I had put off.

Juli N.Verified Google review

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Tooth pain that won’t quit? Don’t tough it out. Markiewicz Dental offers same-day appointments for dental pain and infections — call (847) 566-2811 or request an appointment online. Serving Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Libertyville, Gurnee, and all of Lake County, IL.