CJ Henley, DMD, PA / San Marco, Jacksonville, Florida
Root canal treatment in Jacksonville, FL.
Saving the tooth when it makes sense, and telling you plainly when it doesn’t.
A root canal removes infected or inflamed pulp from inside a tooth so you can keep it. Dr. Henley evaluates every case himself at our San Marco office in Jacksonville, treats the ones that fit a general practice well, and refers the rest, including most molars, to an endodontist.
- 97%of 1.46 million root canal–treated teeth were still in the mouth 8 years later in a large U.S. study1
- 6×higher loss rate for root canal–treated teeth left without a crown in one university study2
- Similarlong-term survival for a restored root canal tooth and a single implant in a systematic review3
- 1 dentistDr. Henley does your exam, explains the options, and does the treatment himself
Top-rated on Google: 4.9 stars from more than 225 patient reviews.
Root canal treatment, explained
What a root canal actually is.
A root canal cleans out the pulp inside a tooth after it has become badly inflamed or infected, usually from deep decay, a crack, or an old injury. The canals are shaped, disinfected, and sealed, and the tooth is then rebuilt. The goal is to keep your own tooth working instead of extracting it.
Every tooth has a soft core called the pulp, which holds its nerve and blood supply and runs down thin channels in each root. Those channels are the “root canals.”
Once bacteria reach the pulp, it can’t heal the way your gums can. Sometimes it becomes painfully inflamed. Sometimes it dies quietly and the infection spreads out the root tip into the bone. Either way, the tooth won’t fix itself.
A fully formed adult tooth doesn’t need its pulp to stay in place; the bone and ligament hold it. So removing the pulp and sealing the canals can save a tooth that would otherwise come out. The American Association of Endodontists compares the procedure to a routine filling.4
Told you have an abscess? See tooth abscess.
Signs you may need a root canal
Symptoms worth getting checked.
Warning signs include lingering pain with hot or cold, pain when you bite, a pimple on the gum, swelling, or a darkened tooth. Some infected teeth cause no symptoms and show up only on an X-ray. Symptoms point toward a diagnosis; testing confirms it.
Lingering sensitivity
A quick zing that fades in a second is usually fine. Pain that hangs on after the cold or heat is gone suggests the pulp is inflamed beyond recovery.4
Pain when you chew
Sharp pain when you bite down can mean inflammation has reached the tissue around the root tip. It can also be a crack, which the exam sorts out.
A bump or swelling on the gum
A small pimple near the tooth that drains and comes back is usually the infection finding a way out. Spreading facial swelling is an emergency (see below).
Throbbing or a darkened tooth
Pain that starts on its own or wakes you up suggests a badly inflamed pulp. A tooth that turns gray, often years after an injury, may have a pulp that has died.
Diagnosis before treatment
How Dr. Henley evaluates the tooth.
Before recommending a root canal, Dr. Henley confirms which tooth is the problem and whether it can be saved, using your history, simple tests, and X-rays. When a standard X-ray can’t answer the question, he may recommend a 3D scan.
Toothaches can mislead. Pain from a lower tooth can feel like it’s up top, and a sinus problem can feel like a bad tooth. So the first visit is about getting the diagnosis right.
- Cold testing. Shows how the pulp responds compared with the teeth next to it.
- Tapping and biting tests. Show whether the tissue around the root is inflamed, and can help reveal a crack.
- Gum measurements. A deep, narrow pocket beside one tooth can point to a root fracture.
- X-rays. Show decay, old fillings, root shape, and many infections at the root tip.
When 3D imaging helps
A regular X-ray is a flat picture of a three-dimensional tooth, so it can hide things. Cone beam CT (CBCT) shows tooth and bone in 3D. Endodontic and radiology groups recommend it for specific problems, like an unclear diagnosis or complex root anatomy, not as a routine scan for every tooth.5 Read more on our digital and 3D imaging page.
Sometimes the honest answer is that the tooth can’t be saved predictably: a crack down the root, too little tooth left, or advanced bone loss. You’ll hear that before anyone starts drilling.
What happens during a root canal
The procedure, step by step.
With the tooth numb, a small opening is made in the top, the pulp is removed, and the canals are cleaned, shaped, and sealed. The tooth then gets a filling and, for most back teeth, a crown. The root canal itself usually takes one or two visits.
Fees in writing, then numbing
You get the fee for each step in writing first. Then the tooth is numbed, and we confirm it’s working before going further.
Cleaning the canals
With a rubber dam around the tooth when appropriate, a small opening reaches the pulp. Fine instruments remove it and shape each canal while disinfecting solutions rinse it clean.
Filling and sealing
The canals are filled with a rubber-like material (gutta-percha) and sealer. If a second visit is needed, medication goes inside the tooth in between.
Rebuilding the tooth
The opening is closed with a filling. Back teeth usually need a crown afterward, at a separate appointment.
Do root canals hurt?
An honest answer about pain.
For most people the procedure feels much like a filling, because the tooth is numb. The pain people associate with root canals usually comes from the infected tooth beforehand. Expect some soreness for a few days afterward. Very inflamed teeth can be harder to numb, so we take extra time.
The American Association of Endodontists says a root canal isn’t more painful than a routine filling.4 When a tooth has ached for days, treatment is often what brings relief.
We won’t promise you’ll feel nothing, though. A badly inflamed tooth can resist numbing. When that happens, Dr. Henley adds anesthetic, tries other techniques, and gives it time. If you feel sharp pain, raise your hand and we stop. Our page on dental numbness explains how long it lasts.
If you’re nervous
- Nitrous oxide. Takes the edge off and wears off quickly.
- An anti-anxiety pill the night before. For worry that keeps you up.
- Oral sedation for adults. Triazolam gives minimal sedation; you’ll need a driver.
We don’t offer IV sedation and refer when it’s needed. See sedation dentistry.
Root canal recovery
What the next few days look like.
Most people return to normal activities the same day. The tooth is often sore for a few days, and over-the-counter pain relievers usually help. Avoid chewing hard foods on it until the final restoration is in.
The first few days
Wait to eat until the numbness wears off. Tenderness when biting usually fades over several days. Pain that gets worse, new swelling, or a lost temporary are reasons to call.
Long term
A root canal tooth can still get decay, gum disease, or a fracture, so home care and checkups matter as much as ever. See our home care instructions.
Crowns after root canal treatment
Why back teeth usually need a crown.
Back teeth take heavy chewing forces, and a tooth that needed a root canal has usually lost a lot of structure already. A crown covers and protects it. Studies link crowns with better survival of root canal–treated teeth.
In a University of Iowa study, root canal–treated teeth that were not crowned were lost at six times the rate of crowned teeth, after accounting for tooth type and decay.2 In the large U.S. insurance study, 85% of the root canal teeth that were later extracted had never received full coverage like a crown.1
Front teeth with most of their structure intact can often be restored with a filling alone. For more, see why do I need a crown?
How your crown is made
We don’t make same-day milled crowns. Every crown is handmade by a local ceramist, Paul Robert, at Dynamic Dental Solutions, so you’ll wear a temporary briefly. See crowns and bridges.
Try not to wait long between the root canal and the crown. A tooth sitting with a temporary is the one most likely to crack.
Root canal vs. extraction
Saving the tooth or replacing it.
When a tooth can be restored predictably, keeping it is usually the simpler path, and a systematic review found long-term survival similar to a single implant.3 The better choice depends on how much healthy tooth remains, your gums and bone, and your health history.
| Root canal and crown | Extraction and implant | Extraction with no replacement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical steps | Root canal (one or two visits), then a crown | Extraction, sometimes a bone graft, healing, implant, then a crown | One extraction visit |
| Time to finished tooth | Usually a few weeks | Often several months | None; the space stays open |
| Long-term evidence | High tooth retention in large studies1; survival similar to implants in reviews3 | Survival similar to restored root canal teeth in reviews3 | Neighboring teeth can drift and the opposing tooth can overgrow into the space |
| Often the better fit when | Enough sound tooth remains, the root isn’t cracked, and the gums and bone are healthy | The tooth can’t be restored predictably, or it has a root fracture | The tooth isn’t needed for chewing or appearance, such as some wisdom teeth |
| What affects cost | Which tooth, number of canals, whether you’re referred, the buildup and crown | Grafting, healing time, implant parts, and the crown | The extraction, plus any replacement later |
A bridge or removable partial can also replace a tooth. See tooth extraction and dental implants. Either way, you get each fee in writing first.
Root canal success rates
How long a root canal tooth lasts.
Most root canal–treated teeth stay in the mouth for many years. In one study of more than 1.4 million teeth, 97% were still present eight years later, and most of those later lost had never been crowned. Some teeth do need further care.
That study covered patients in all 50 states, treated by general dentists and endodontists. Retreatment, root-end surgery, or extraction happened in about 3%, mostly within three years.1 “Still in the mouth” isn’t the same as “perfectly healed,” but across many studies a well-done root canal with a good restoration is a dependable way to keep a tooth.3
What helps most: a timely crown, enough healthy tooth, healthy gums, and checkups.
Root canals in Jacksonville: who does what
When Dr. Henley refers you to an endodontist.
Dr. Henley does root canals in our office for appropriate cases. Most molar root canals are referred to an endodontist, as are retreatments, very curved or narrow canals, and anything needing surgery.
Most molars
Molars often have three or four canals that can be hard to find and reach. We think most belong with an endodontist.
Retreatment
Redoing an old root canal means removing the old filling material and finding what was missed.
Curved or narrow canals
Sharply curved, calcified, or very narrow canals carry more risk. When X-rays show that, we refer.
Surgical cases
Some teeth need surgery at the root tip (an apicoectomy). Those go to an endodontist too.
After the endodontist treats the canals, you come back to us for the filling or crown.
Antibiotics and dental emergencies
Why antibiotics alone don’t fix it, and when to go to the ER.
Antibiotics can’t reach the infection inside a tooth, so they don’t cure it. The American Dental Association recommends treating the tooth instead for most toothaches and localized abscesses. Facial swelling with fever, or trouble swallowing or breathing, means go to the ER.
A dead pulp has no blood supply, so medicine in your bloodstream can’t reach the bacteria inside. An ADA guideline panel found little benefit and real risks for most adults, reserved antibiotics for signs of spreading infection such as fever, and said treating the tooth should come first.6 That means a root canal or an extraction. See emergency dental care.
Go to the emergency room if you have
- Facial swelling that is spreading, especially toward the eye or down the neck.
- Fever along with a swollen face or jaw.
- Trouble swallowing or breathing, or you can’t open your mouth normally.
These can be signs of a spreading infection that needs hospital care. Don’t wait for a dental appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about root canal treatment.
Do root canals hurt?
Most patients say it feels much like a filling, because the tooth is numb. The real pain usually comes from the infected tooth beforehand. Expect a few days of soreness. A very inflamed tooth can be harder to numb, so Dr. Henley takes extra time. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are available. See sedation dentistry.
Where can I get a root canal in Jacksonville?
Dr. Henley evaluates and treats root canals at our office at 3675 Hendricks Avenue in San Marco, Jacksonville. He treats appropriate cases himself and refers the more complex ones, including most molars, to an endodontist. Call 904.398.1549 to schedule an evaluation.
Is a root canal better than pulling the tooth?
When the tooth can be restored predictably, keeping it is usually the simpler and faster path, and long-term survival is similar to a single implant. When the root is cracked or too little tooth remains, extraction and replacement may be the better call. Compare them in the table above or see tooth extraction.
Can I just take antibiotics instead?
No. Antibiotics can’t reach bacteria inside a tooth whose pulp has died, so the infection comes back. The American Dental Association recommends treating the tooth instead. Antibiotics are added when an infection is spreading, with fever or significant swelling, alongside a root canal or extraction.
Do I really need a crown after a root canal?
Usually, for back teeth. Studies link crowns with much better survival of root canal–treated teeth. Front teeth with most of their structure left can often get a filling instead. Our crowns are handmade by a local ceramist, not milled same-day. Read why do I need a crown?
Why would Dr. Henley send me to an endodontist?
Most molars, retreatments of old root canals, very curved or narrow canals, and cases that need surgery at the root tip go to an endodontist, a dentist with additional training in root canal treatment. You come back to Dr. Henley for the final filling or crown.
Can a root canal fail?
It can. Most root canal teeth last many years, but a tooth can become reinfected, develop new decay, or crack. Some can be retreated by an endodontist; others need to come out. A timely crown on back teeth, good home care, and regular checkups give the tooth its best chance.
How much does a root canal cost, and does insurance help?
Cost depends on the tooth, the number of canals, and the crown that follows. We’re an out-of-network practice. Many plans still pay part of the cost, and our team helps you understand your benefits. You get the fee for each step in writing before treatment. Call with your plan details to ask about fees and payment arrangements.
What if my face is swelling?
Call us right away at 904.398.1549. If the swelling is spreading, or you have a fever, trouble swallowing, or trouble breathing, go to the emergency room or call 911 first. Those can be signs of a serious spreading infection. See emergency dental care.
Your next step
Find out whether your tooth can be saved.
If a tooth is aching, or you’ve been told you need a root canal and want another opinion, schedule an evaluation with Dr. Henley in San Marco. He’ll test the tooth, show you the X-rays, and tell you plainly whether he’d treat it here, refer it, or recommend something else.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA3675 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Prefer a nonurgent text? 904.762.5616 is our practice on-call and text line. Please don’t send sensitive health information by text, and call for anything urgent.
Related pages
Sources
- Salehrabi R, Rotstein I. Endodontic treatment outcomes in a large patient population in the USA: an epidemiological study. J Endod. 2004;30(12):846-850.
- Aquilino SA, Caplan DJ. Relationship between crown placement and the survival of endodontically treated teeth. J Prosthet Dent. 2002;87(3):256-263.
- Torabinejad M, Anderson P, Bader J, et al. Outcomes of root canal treatment and restoration, implant-supported single crowns, fixed partial dentures, and extraction without replacement: a systematic review. J Prosthet Dent. 2007;98(4):285-311.
- American Association of Endodontists. What is a root canal? AAE patient information. Accessed October 2026.
- American Association of Endodontists; American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. AAE and AAOMR joint position statement: use of cone beam computed tomography in endodontics 2015 update. J Endod. 2015;41(9):1393-1396.
- Lockhart PB, Tampi MP, Abt E, et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guideline on antibiotic use for the urgent management of pulpal- and periapical-related dental pain and intraoral swelling: a report from the American Dental Association. J Am Dent Assoc. 2019;150(11):906-921.e12.