Few treatments carry a scarier reputation than the root canal — and few reputations are less deserved. The fear keeps people walking around with a toothache for months, until a tooth that could have been saved in two visits has to come out. Here are the myths we hear most often, what the treatment is actually like, and what it costs in Pasig and Mandaluyong.
What is a root canal, in plain language?
Inside every tooth is a soft core of nerve and blood vessels called the pulp. When deep decay or a crack lets bacteria reach it, the pulp becomes inflamed and then infected — that's the throbbing toothache, and sometimes the swelling or "pimple" on the gum. A root canal removes the infected pulp, disinfects and shapes the hollow canals inside the root, and seals them so bacteria can't return. The tooth stays in your mouth, held by the bone as before; it simply no longer has a live nerve.
Myth 1: Root canals are extremely painful
Modern root canal treatment is done under local anaesthesia. You'll feel pressure and vibration, but minimal pain — in fact, the treatment relieves the toothache caused by the infection. Most of the horror stories come from a time before modern anaesthetics and rotary instruments, or from a tooth that was already severely infected before treatment started. Post-treatment tenderness when biting is normal for a few days and settles with ordinary pain relief.
Myth 2: It's better to just pull the tooth
Keeping your natural tooth is almost always the better long-term outcome. Extraction creates a gap that affects chewing and lets neighbouring teeth drift and tilt — and replacing a missing tooth properly costs far more than saving it: a single dental implant starts at ₱100,000, versus a root canal from ₱13,000. Extraction is the right call only when the tooth is cracked below the gumline, has too little structure left to restore, or the infection has destroyed too much bone — and we'll tell you honestly when that's the case.
Myth 3: Root canals take many long visits
Most cases need two visits of 60–90 minutes. The first visit removes the infection and places a medicated dressing; the second cleans, shapes and seals the canals. Additional visits are only needed for significant infection or complex canal anatomy. Front teeth usually have one canal; molars typically have three, which is why they take longer and cost more.
Myth 4: A treated tooth is dead weight
A root-canal-treated tooth, restored properly, can function for decades. The one real vulnerability is that it becomes more brittle without its blood supply, which is why back teeth almost always need a crown afterwards to prevent fracture. Front teeth can often be restored with a filling alone. Your dentist will advise based on how much tooth structure remains — and the crown should be planned into the budget from the start, not discovered as a surprise.
Myth 5: It's unaffordable
At Modern Smiles, root canal treatment starts at ₱13,000 for one canal (typical for front teeth), ₱22,000 for two canals (premolars and some molars) and ₱30,000 for three canals (typical for molars). A periapical X-ray to measure the canals is ₱600, and a post-treatment crown is quoted after evaluation. Compare that with the lifetime cost of extraction plus replacement, and saving the tooth is usually the economical choice too. Installment plans are available. Guide prices last reviewed October 2026.
What are the signs you might need a root canal?
A toothache that throbs or wakes you at night; pain that lingers for more than a few seconds after hot or cold; pain when biting down; swelling of the gum or face; a small pimple on the gum near a tooth that comes and goes; or a tooth that has darkened compared with its neighbours. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all and the infection shows up on a routine X-ray — one more argument for six-monthly checkups.
What happens if you ignore it?
Dental infections don't resolve on their own. The pain may fade for a while when the nerve dies, which people mistake for recovery, but the infection continues into the bone and can form an abscess. Antibiotics calm it temporarily; only treating the tooth removes the source. The longer the wait, the more bone is lost and the lower the chance of saving the tooth.
Common questions
Can I drive and work after a root canal?
Yes. Only the tooth is numbed. Avoid chewing on that side until the numbness wears off.
Will the tooth turn dark?
Occasionally a treated front tooth darkens slightly over the years. It can be whitened from the inside or covered with a veneer or crown if it bothers you.
Does HMO cover root canal treatment?
Some plans cover part of it; most cover the consultation and X-ray only. We'll verify your card before treatment — see our HMO page.
Can a root canal fail?
Success rates are high, but a small percentage need retreatment years later, usually because of a missed canal or a new leak under the filling. A good seal and a timely crown are the best protection.
The real takeaway
Lingering toothache, sensitivity that stays after hot or cold, swelling, or a pimple on the gums — these are signs to get examined now, while the fix is still simple.
Learn about root canal treatment or book an exam today.
Written by Dr. Karla Domingo-Cuison, Head Dentist · Last reviewed October 2026. Prices are Modern Smiles' published guide fees and are confirmed after clinical evaluation.