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2405 Peach Street, Suite 120, Erie, PA 16508Monday: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Erie · Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Meadville · Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Warren · Thursday: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Erie · Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Erie · Saturday and Sunday: ClosedMonday: 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., ErieAbout an hourHye Ahn, Dentist license (DDS) · PA License no. 000000(814) 555-0102
Ahn EndodonticsNorthwest Pennsylvania
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Services

Root canal treatment

Cleaning and sealing the inside of a tooth whose nerve is inflamed or infected, so the tooth can stay in place.

Inside every tooth are narrow canals that carry its nerve and blood supply. When they become inflamed or infected, Dr. Ahn removes what is inside, shapes and cleans the canals and seals them. The tooth then goes back to your dentist for a crown or filling. The aim is to keep your own tooth, and whether that is possible depends on the tooth.

  • The tooth is numbed first

  • Usually one or two visits

  • Your dentist does the final restoration

Two staff members preparing instruments at a counter in a sterilization area

What happens

Visit by visit

Most root canals take one or two visits. Dr. Ahn tells you which you are likely to need.

  1. 01

    Step 1: Exam and images

    She looks at the tooth, tests it and takes the images she needs. You hear what she found before anything begins.

  2. 02

    Step 2: Numbing and access

    The tooth is numbed and she makes a small opening to reach the canals under the microscope.

  3. 03

    Step 3: Cleaning and sealing

    The canals are cleaned, shaped and sealed. If a second visit is needed, the tooth gets a temporary filling.

  4. 04

    Step 4: Back to your dentist

    We send a report and images. Your dentist places the crown or filling, usually soon after.

Before you decide

Comfort, choices and what to expect

  • Comfort

    The tooth is numbed before work begins and Dr. Ahn checks that the numbness is working. Tell her at any point and she will pause. If you have found dental visits hard in the past, say so when you book.

  • If you wait, or choose not to treat

    A tooth with an infected nerve does not usually heal on its own, and the infection can spread. The other choice is to have the tooth removed and replaced, which your dentist or an oral surgeon can discuss with you. Dr. Ahn lays out both before you decide.

  • Risks and after-care

    Risks include soreness for a few days, a canal that can't be fully cleaned, a tooth that cracks later and an infection that comes back. Dr. Ahn explains these before treatment and what to do if something feels wrong afterward.

  • How it is billed

    Your plan may treat this differently from general dental care. We give you a written estimate before treatment, and the fees page explains how paying works. This site never shows a price.

    How fees work

Questions

About a root canal

Do I need a crown afterward?

Often, yes. A tooth that has had a root canal is usually protected with a crown, and your dentist decides what is right for yours.

How long will I be numb?

Usually a few hours. Avoid chewing on that side until it wears off.

What if the tooth still hurts afterward?

Some soreness is common for a few days. If it gets worse, or swelling appears, call the office you were treated at.

Ask for a visit

Dr. Hye Ahn, DDS, provides this care. The practice is limited to endodontics, and she sends your dentist a report afterward.

Request a visitHow fees work