If the nerve inside a tooth is infected or dying, a root canal can stop the pain and let you keep the tooth. Call (561) 372-2189 and we'll book you a same-day visit at our Westlake office. A dentist confirms whether you need one, explains the steps and gives you a written price before starting.
The $99 is a minimum fee for patients paying without insurance. It covers a limited, problem-focused emergency exam (ADA code D0140) and the X-ray needed to diagnose the tooth. Treatment is priced separately and quoted to you in writing before any work starts.
Open 7 days a week · Same-day appointments · $99 exam + X-ray · Se habla español
Signs you need an emergency root canal today
Inside every tooth is soft tissue called the pulp, with nerves and blood vessels. Deep decay, a crack or an old injury can let bacteria in. Once the pulp is inflamed or infected, it doesn't recover on its own. Watch for:
- Sharp or throbbing pain when you bite down
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that hangs on for a minute or more
- A tooth that has turned gray or darker than its neighbors
- Swollen, tender gum near one tooth
- A small bump on the gum that drains
- Pain that eases, then returns days later
A tooth that suddenly stops hurting after days of pain may have a nerve that has died. The infection can still spread to the bone. Don't take silence as the all-clear.
If swelling spreads into your cheek, eye or neck, or you can't swallow comfortably, go to an ER first. ER at Westlake is a short drive from us.
What happens at your same-day visit
We start with a phone call, since walk-ins aren't accepted. That way the dentist has time set aside for you when you get here.
The exam includes the X-ray needed to see the root and the bone at its tip. The dentist also checks how the tooth reacts to cold and tapping. If a root canal is the right call, you'll hear why, what it involves and the written price.
Here's the short version of the treatment. We numb the tooth thoroughly. A small opening is made in the chewing surface. The infected pulp is cleared out, the canals are shaped and disinfected, then sealed. Depending on the tooth, the work may finish in one visit or be split into two. Back teeth often need a crown afterward to protect what's left.
If the tooth can't be saved, we'll tell you plainly and talk through extraction instead. You decide.
Cost of an emergency root canal in Westlake
For patients without insurance, the exam and X-ray start at $99. The root canal is priced after the exam, because front teeth, premolars and molars differ in how many canals they have and how long the work takes. With a PPO, HMO or Medicare Advantage dental plan, the exam and X-ray are billed to your plan.
You can pay by cash or card. In-house payment plans are available, and so are Sunbit, Cherry and CareCredit financing. The cost and insurance page explains how we price treatment.
Why patients choose our Persimmon Blvd W office
Our hours are practical. We open at 7:00 AM and close at 7:00 PM Monday through Friday, and we see patients Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We take most PPO and HMO dental plans and Medicare Advantage dental plans. A real person answers the phone around the clock. Parking is on site, and we're easy to find off Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd.
Root canal care near you in western Palm Beach County
Getting here is simple from most of the western communities. From The Acreage, ride Orange Blvd to Seminole Pratt Whitney Rd and head south. Royal Palm Beach patients take Okeechobee Blvd west. Coming from Avenir, follow Northlake Blvd west to Seminole Pratt. We're near Seminole Ridge High School.
Frequently asked questions
Is a root canal painful?
The treatment is done with the tooth fully numb, so most patients describe it like getting a filling, only longer. The pain people associate with root canals usually comes from the infection beforehand. Some tenderness for a few days afterward is normal and typically eases with over-the-counter pain relievers. If you feel discomfort during treatment, tell us.
Can a root canal be done the same day?
Often it can be started the same day, and sometimes finished. It depends on the tooth, how much infection is present and how long the visit allows. The dentist will tell you after the exam whether it's a one-visit or two-visit job, so you can plan.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Back teeth usually do, because they take the most chewing force and become more brittle after treatment. Front teeth sometimes don't. The dentist will look at how much healthy tooth remains and recommend what fits. If a crown is needed, it's a separate written price.
Can antibiotics fix the tooth instead?
Pills may slow an infection that's spreading, yet they can't get at the dying pulp hidden inside the tooth. The source stays. That's why the infection tends to come back once the pills run out. A root canal or extraction removes the source. Read more on our dental abscess page.