Root canals save these infected teeth without removing them. Dental technology has come a long way to treat the “painful root canal”. A majority of root canals can be performed with little discomfort. We simply clean out the infection, fill the sterile canals, and seal the tooth off with a crown. We also go above the standard of care to sterilize the tooth.  A local pharmacy mixes an antibiotic, corticosteroid, and local anesthetic for us, and it is placed inside the tooth.  This increases the longevity of the root canal and decreases after treatment discomfort.  Simple over the counter pain relievers often control any discomfort that can occur with treatment.