Scottsville Family Dentistry

Restore Your Smile

Root Canal Therapy

A root canal saves a tooth that would otherwise have to be pulled — and we do them right here on West River Road.

A root canal becomes necessary when the nerve inside a tooth has become infected or badly inflamed — usually from a deep cavity, a crack, or trauma. Without treatment the tooth will be lost. With a root canal, the infected tissue is gently removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed, and your natural tooth is saved.

Most general dental practices refer root canals out to an endodontist in Charlottesville or Lynchburg. Dr. Azevedo and Dr. Lee perform most root canals here in our Scottsville office. For tri-county families, that often means no specialist drive, no second consult fee, and a faster path from pain to relief.

The procedure itself is more comfortable than its reputation suggests. With modern anesthetic, most patients say it feels similar to having a routine filling — just a bit longer. You leave with the infection treated and your tooth saved.

Why it matters

  • ✓Saves your natural tooth — no extraction, no implant needed later
  • ✓Performed in our office — no referral to Charlottesville or Lynchburg
  • ✓Modern anesthetic makes the procedure comfortable
  • ✓Quick relief from the kind of toothache that keeps you up at night

Questions we hear

Is a root canal painful?+
No, despite the reputation. The pain people remember is usually from the infection itself before treatment. The procedure relieves that pain. With modern anesthetic, most patients say it feels similar to a long filling.
How long does it take?+
Most root canals are completed in one or two visits, depending on the tooth and the level of infection. After the root canal is finished, the tooth usually needs a crown to protect it long term — we can plan that at the same time.
Why don't I just have the tooth pulled?+
An extraction is faster up front, but a missing tooth eventually causes other problems — the teeth around it shift, and the jawbone shrinks. Replacing the tooth with an implant later usually costs more than the root canal would have. Saving your own tooth is almost always the better long-term answer.