By Dr. Aditi Goel, MDS — Microscopic Endodontics Specialist, Dentaire Smile Studio, Gurgaon Published: May 2026 | 10-minute read

“I’d rather pull the tooth than get a root canal.”

I hear this at least once every week — usually from someone sitting in my chair, gripping the armrests, eyes wide. And every time, I say the same thing: that fear is 30 years out of date.

Root canal treatment is probably the most feared dental procedure in the world, and also the most misunderstood. This article is my attempt to change that — not with marketing language, but with the truth about what a modern root canal actually involves, why it’s nothing like the horror story you’ve heard, and when you genuinely need one.

What Is a Root Canal, Really?

Let’s start with the basics, because most people have a fuzzy idea at best.

Inside every tooth — beneath the hard white enamel and the slightly softer dentin — is a soft tissue called the pulp. This pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. It’s what makes a young tooth sensitive to hot and cold. Once a tooth is fully grown, the pulp becomes largely unnecessary; the tooth can survive perfectly well without it, nourished by the surrounding tissue.

A root canal treatment (also called Root Canal Therapy, or RCT) becomes necessary when that inner pulp becomes infected or inflamed. This can happen because of:

Deep tooth decay that reaches the pulp
A cracked or chipped tooth that allows bacteria inside
Repeated dental procedures on the same tooth
Trauma or injury — even if the tooth looks intact on the surface

The procedure removes the infected pulp, cleans and disinfects the hollow canals inside the root, and seals the tooth permanently. That’s it. What follows is the placement of a crown to protect and restore the tooth.

The Real Answer: Does It Hurt?

Here is what I tell every patient honestly: the procedure itself, done under modern local anaesthesia, is no more painful than a routine filling. Most of my patients are surprised — they fall asleep.

What does hurt is the infection before treatment. Toothache from an infected pulp can be excruciating — spontaneous pain, sensitivity to temperature, throbbing that keeps you up at night. The root canal is what ends that pain, not causes it.

There may be mild soreness for a day or two after treatment, managed easily with over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen. This settles on its own.

So where does the terrifying reputation come from?

A Brief, Honest History

Root canal treatments were genuinely unpleasant decades ago. Anaesthesia was less effective. Instruments were cruder. Imaging was limited, so canals were often missed. Procedures took multiple long appointments.

Today, nearly all of that has changed. What hasn’t changed is the story people tell each other. Fear of root canals is, at this point, largely cultural folklore — passed down from a generation that had genuinely different experiences.

What Modern Root Canal Treatment Looks Like in 2026

At Dentaire Smile Studio, we approach root canal treatment with a few key principles that set the standard apart from what most patients expect.

1. Microscope-Assisted Endodontics

This is something most clinics in Gurgaon and Delhi NCR still don’t offer. We perform root canal procedures under a dental operating microscope — magnifying the treatment area up to 25 times. This allows us to:

Identify and treat all root canals, including very fine or curved ones that are invisible to the naked eye
Remove infected tissue with precision, without damaging healthy structure
Detect micro-cracks or hidden infections that conventional X-rays miss

Missed canals are the primary reason root canals fail or cause pain after treatment. Magnification eliminates most of that risk.

2. Rubber Dam Isolation

We use a rubber dam — a thin sheet of latex placed around the tooth — to isolate the treatment area completely. This keeps bacteria in saliva away from the canals during the procedure, keeps instruments from slipping into the throat, and dramatically improves the sterility of the entire process. It’s standard in advanced endodontic practice and one of the most important things to ask about when choosing a root canal specialist.

3. Rotary Instrumentation

Instead of manually filing the canals with hand instruments (slow, tiring, and less precise), we use motorised rotary files — flexible nickel-titanium instruments that clean and shape the canals in a fraction of the time. Faster procedures mean less time in the chair and less fatigue for both patient and dentist.

4. Digital Imaging and Apex Locators

We take digital X-rays (with far lower radiation than conventional film X-rays) and use electronic apex locators to measure root canal length with accuracy down to a fraction of a millimetre. This removes guesswork entirely.

How Many Sittings Does a Root Canal Take?

This is one of the most common questions I receive. The honest answer: it depends on the complexity of the infection and the tooth.

Simple cases (front teeth, early-stage infection, no abscess): Often completed in a single sitting of about 45–60 minutes.
Complex cases (multi-rooted teeth like molars, severe infection, active abscess): Two or three sittings may be needed. The first visit cleans and medicates the canals; the second or third seals them permanently.

Patients sometimes read online that “a root canal can be done in one sitting” and then feel cheated when their dentist recommends two appointments. Don’t feel cheated — if your infection is severe, rushing the procedure increases the risk of failure.

Root Canal vs. Tooth Extraction: Which Is Better?

I am asked this constantly, and I want to give you an honest comparison rather than a self-serving one.

	Root Canal + Crown	Tooth Extraction
Immediate cost	Higher	Lower
Long-term cost	Lower (no replacement needed)	Higher if implant or bridge follows
Procedure	1–3 visits	1 visit
Function	Natural tooth preserved	Artificial replacement
Bone loss over time	None	Yes — jawbone shrinks without a tooth root
Adjacent teeth	Unaffected	May drift/tilt into gap
Best for	Most cases where tooth is salvageable	Severely damaged teeth, certain orthodontic needs

My professional recommendation is almost always to save the natural tooth if possible. Dental implants and bridges are excellent — we offer both at Dentaire Smile Studio — but they are replacements for something irreplaceable. Your natural tooth, with its root embedded in the bone, maintains jaw structure and bite function in ways that no artificial replacement can fully replicate over a lifetime.

7 Signs You May Need a Root Canal

Many patients wait too long because the early symptoms seem manageable. Don’t delay — early treatment is simpler, cheaper, and more comfortable than treatment after an abscess has formed.

See a dentist promptly if you notice:

Severe, persistent toothache — especially spontaneous pain that doesn’t need a trigger
Prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold — lasting more than a few seconds after the stimulus is removed
A darkening or discolouration of a single tooth — this can indicate internal damage to the pulp
Swelling or tenderness in the gums near a tooth, especially a small pimple-like bump (a dental abscess or sinus tract)
Pain when biting or chewing — especially if it’s localised to one tooth
A cracked or chipped tooth — even without immediate pain, bacteria can enter and cause infection over time
A previously filled tooth that is causing pain — old fillings can fail, allowing decay to reach the pulp underneath

Root Canal Cost in Gurgaon: What to Expect

Pricing varies based on which tooth is being treated (front teeth have fewer canals than molars), the complexity of the infection, and the technology used.

As a general guide for Gurgaon in 2026:

Front teeth (incisors/canines): ₹3,500 – ₹6,000
Premolars: ₹5,000 – ₹8,500
Molars (most complex): ₹7,000 – ₹12,000+
Crown (required after RCT): ₹4,000 – ₹15,000 depending on material (zirconia vs porcelain-fused-to-metal)

Clinics using microscope-assisted, single-visit endodontics may charge slightly more — but consider what you are getting: higher accuracy, lower re-treatment risk, and a significantly shorter in-chair time.

The most expensive root canal is the one that fails and needs to be redone. Invest in it done right the first time.

Root Canal Aftercare: What to Do (and Avoid)

Once your root canal is complete and your crown is placed:

Do:

Continue brushing and flossing normally — the treated tooth needs the same hygiene care as any other
Attend follow-up appointments so we can confirm healing
Tell us immediately if you experience prolonged pain, swelling, or sensitivity after the first few days — this is uncommon but worth checking

Avoid (in the first 24–48 hours after treatment):

Chewing hard or sticky foods on the treated side
Very hot or very cold foods until the tooth has settled
Ignoring discomfort that persists beyond three to four days

A properly treated and crowned root canal tooth can last a lifetime. We have patients who have had their root canal teeth for 20+ years with no issues.

Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canal Treatment

Q: Is a root canal painful? A: Under modern local anaesthesia, a root canal procedure should not be painful. You may feel pressure and movement but not pain. Post-procedure soreness for 1–2 days is normal and managed with standard painkillers.

Q: How long does a root canal take? A: A single-canal tooth (like a front incisor) can be treated in 45–60 minutes. A molar with multiple canals may take 60–90 minutes per sitting, over one or two visits.

Q: How long does a root canal last? A: A properly treated root canal tooth, protected with a crown and maintained with good oral hygiene, can last the rest of your life. Studies show 90%+ survival rates at 10 years.

Q: Can a root canal be done in one sitting? A: Yes, in many cases — particularly with microscope-assisted endodontics. However, severe infections or complex root anatomy may require two visits for best outcomes.

Q: What is the difference between RCT and RTC in dental terms? A: These refer to the same procedure. RCT stands for Root Canal Treatment. RTC is sometimes used colloquially or in abbreviation as well. Both mean the same thing.

Q: Is it better to extract a tooth or do a root canal? A: In most cases, saving the natural tooth with a root canal is the better long-term option. Extraction leads to bone loss and requires a replacement (implant or bridge) to maintain function, which costs more in the long run.

Q: What is microscopic endodontics? A: Microscopic endodontics refers to root canal treatment performed under a dental operating microscope. It allows the dentist to see the canal system in high magnification, identifying all canals, cracks, and infected tissue with far greater precision than conventional treatment. Dr. Aditi Goel at Dentaire Smile Studio, Gurgaon, specialises in this technique.

A Final Word: Stop Delaying Because of Fear

The irony of dental fear is that it makes outcomes worse. Patients who delay because they’re afraid of the root canal end up with a larger infection, a more complex procedure, and sometimes a tooth that can no longer be saved at all.

If you’ve been told you need a root canal — or if you have any of the symptoms I’ve described above — I’d encourage you to come in for a consultation. Not to be talked into anything. Just to understand what’s happening in your tooth and what your options are.

We have an anaesthesia protocol specifically designed for anxious patients. We’ve done this for patients who walked in shaking and walked out saying, “That was it?”

Dentaire Smile Studio is located at A127, Nirvana Courtyard Market, Nirvana Country, Sector 50, Gurugram. We are open Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 7:30 PM. You can reach us at +91 9315158145 or book an appointment online.

Your tooth — and your comfort — are worth it.

Dr. Aditi Goel is a Microscopic Endodontics Specialist and the founder of Dentaire Smile Studio, one of Gurgaon’s leading dental clinics. She specialises in painless root canal treatment, smile design, and restorative dentistry, and has been practising in Delhi NCR for over a decade.

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Is a Root Canal Painful? The Truth Most Dentists Don’t Tell You