Expert Root Canal Treatment in Edina, MN

Gentle and Effective Endodontic Care

WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL?

Root canals are a relatively simple procedure that can save your tooth and your smile. They are also incredibly common. In fact, millions of Americans receive root canal treatments every year to save infected teeth. If you’re experiencing pain or signs of infection, contact Mint Dental to learn more about root canals in Edina, MN, and schedule your evaluation today.

A root canal can refer to both the inner part of the tooth between the pulp and tooth roots, as well as the dental procedure used to remove infected tooth material. In adult teeth, the purpose of tooth nerves is to sense heat, cold, and other stimuli, however, decay or infection in the tooth pulp can cause intense pain and a possible root canal procedure.

What causes a root canal?

Decay – Cracks, chips in your teeth, and even untreated cavities can cause tooth decay and root canal pain.
Disease – Having repeated dental procedures on the same tooth or in the same areas in your mouth can promote tooth decay and root canal pain.
Damage – Tooth decay may have penetrated the outer layer of the tooth, resulting in root canal pain.

Six Signs You May Need a Root Canal Treatment

During your exam, your general dentist will look for signs to indicate whether or not you need a root canal. These signs include:

The pain can range from sharp and intense to a dull, constant ache. In some cases, it may even be severe enough to wake you from sleep. However, it’s important to keep in mind that not all pain is a sign a root canal is needed.

The swelling in your gums can range from being slight and reddish in color to a more pronounced region that has noticeable fullness. In extreme cases, the swelling may even extend to your face or neck.

This is a feeling of illness or uneasiness, fever, and/or tender lymph nodes. These symptoms are considered secondary, meaning they may be present, but are not directly indicative of a needed root canal. If you are experiencing tooth and gum pain in addition to malaise, then this will be weighed more heavily by your dentist when making a diagnosis.

If you have experienced pain or swelling around a tooth, your dentist will perform an X-ray examination to uncover the cause of the pain. The dentist will look for dark spots (radiolucencies) that are found around the tip of the failed tooth’s root.

Extreme discoloration of a tooth can mean that pathological changes have taken place within its nerves. This type of occurrence is fairly common with teeth that have experienced trauma and can be associated with symptoms of pain and swelling.

This means that during dental work, the dentist’s tool has made contact with the tooth’s pulp tissue. Tissue exposure as a result of tooth decay means the tooth is in immediate need for root canal treatment.

What You Can Expect

The root canal treatment is a multi-step procedure that may require one to three office visits.

Clean & Prep

A root canal treatment begins by cleaning out the damaged and infected areas of the tooth through an access hole.

Protecting Your Tooth

Once the infected areas of the tooth are removed (including the pulp and sometimes the nerves), it is sealed with a temporary filling to protect it against future damage and tooth pain.

Placing the Crown

Your follow-up appointment with your dentist will include the application of a permanent dental crown to ensure its structural integrity.

Choose Mint Dental for Your Root Canal in Edina

We’ll do everything possible to make sure you feel comfortable and at ease during your root canal in Edina, MN.

A common misconception about receiving a root canal treatment is that the patient will feel extensive amounts of discomfort. Dr. Marwa will ensure you feel comfortable and at ease during your root canal procedure by using sedation options. We regularly perform root canal endodontic treatments to remove infections and save our patients’ teeth. We are experts at completing these procedures successfully so that our patients can experience maximal comfort.

Root Canal FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canal

No, modern root canals are not painful for most patients — the tooth and surrounding area are numbed with local anesthetic before treatment starts, so you typically feel pressure but not sharp pain during the procedure. Any soreness afterward is usually mild and manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers for a few days. In fact, patients often come in with severe pain from the infected tooth, and a root canal is what makes that pain go away. If you have significant dental anxiety, ask your dentist about sedation options that can help you stay comfortable throughout the appointment.

Most root canal appointments take about 60 to 90 minutes, though molars with multiple canals can run closer to 90 minutes or require a second visit. A front tooth with a single canal is often on the shorter end, while back molars with three or four canals take longer because each canal needs to be cleaned, shaped, and sealed individually. Your dentist can give you a more specific estimate after reviewing your X-rays. Plan for a bit of extra time on your first visit to account for numbing and post-treatment instructions.

Many root canals are completed in a single visit today, though some cases still require two appointments, it depends on the tooth’s complexity, the level of infection, and whether a permanent crown will be placed the same day or later. Single-visit root canals are common for straightforward cases on front teeth, while molars with severe infection may sometimes need a follow-up visit to confirm the tooth has fully calmed down before final sealing. Most patients also return separately to have a permanent dental crown placed after the root canal itself is finished. Your dentist will walk you through your treatment plan before starting so you know what to expect.

In most cases, yes — teeth that have had a root canal are more brittle and prone to fracture, so a dental crown is usually recommended to protect the tooth and restore full chewing function. Back teeth like molars almost always need a crown because they take the most force during chewing. Front teeth sometimes only need a bonded filling if the tooth structure is still strong, but your dentist will make that call based on how much of the natural tooth remains. Skipping a recommended crown is one of the most common reasons root-canal-treated teeth eventually crack and need extraction.

A root canal saves your natural tooth by removing the infected pulp from inside it, while pulling the tooth removes it entirely — root and all — and leaves a gap that needs to be filled with a bridge, implant, or partial denture. Dentists usually prefer saving the tooth when possible because your natural tooth maintains your bite, keeps neighboring teeth from shifting, and preserves the jawbone underneath. A tooth extraction is faster and cheaper up front, but replacing the missing tooth with a dental implant or bridge often costs more in the long run. Both options can be discussed at your consultation so you can choose what’s right for your situation.

If you skip a needed root canal, the infection in the tooth’s pulp will keep spreading — usually causing worsening pain, a dental abscess, swelling in the face or jaw, and eventual loss of the tooth. In serious cases, the infection can travel into the jawbone or bloodstream, which is a genuine medical concern that needs urgent care. Once the infection is bad enough, a root canal may no longer be an option, and extraction becomes the only path forward. If a dentist has recommended one, it’s better to schedule sooner rather than later, even if the tooth isn’t hurting at the moment.

Yes, root canals are generally considered safe during pregnancy, and the second trimester is usually the most comfortable window for non-emergency dental work. Local anesthetics like lidocaine are safe in the doses used for dental treatment, and dental X-rays taken with a lead apron and thyroid collar expose the baby to very little radiation. Leaving a painful infected tooth untreated actually poses a bigger risk than treating it, since untreated dental infection during pregnancy has been linked to pregnancy complications. Always let your dentist know you’re pregnant so medications and imaging can be adjusted appropriately.

A well-done root canal typically lasts 10 years or longer, and many treated teeth stay healthy for the rest of a patient’s life — but the outcome depends heavily on how the tooth is restored afterward and how well it’s cared for over time. Placing a crown promptly after treatment is one of the biggest factors in long-term success, since an uncovered tooth is more likely to fracture under everyday chewing. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups matter just as much for a treated tooth as they do for the rest of your mouth. Some teeth may eventually need retreatment if a new problem develops years down the line.

Yes, most people can fly safely the same day or the day after a root canal, though flying with a still-infected tooth or a recently opened canal can occasionally cause a temporary in-flight pain called barodontalgia from cabin pressure changes. If your tooth was still actively infected at the time of treatment or the root canal was done in stages, ask your dentist whether it’s smarter to wait a day or two before flying. Bring the pain reliever your dentist recommends and any prescribed antibiotics with you just in case. If you’re leaving town for a while, it’s worth scheduling any follow-up crown appointment before you go so the treated tooth stays fully protected.

You can schedule root canal treatment at Mint Dental in Edina, MN, located at 7550 France Avenue South, Suite 138 — the practice is led by Dr. Marwa Gamam-Forest and provides general and endodontic care. To book, call 952-831-1332 or use the contact page to request an appointment. If you’re already dealing with tooth pain, swelling, or sensitivity to hot and cold, mention it when you call so the front desk can prioritize your visit. Mint Dental is currently accepting new patients, so you don’t need to be an existing patient to be seen.

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