Patient Guides

Root Canal in Winslow, AZ: What to Expect at Winslow Dental

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:33:12 GMT

Published by Winslow Dental.

If you've just been told you need a root canal in Winslow, AZ, you might be bracing for the worst. We hear that worry often, usually from patients who've heard that root canals are painful. Below, Dr. Brent Gardner explains what a root canal with us feels like, how long it takes, whether you'll need a crown afterward and how we help you plan for the cost, so you can walk in knowing what to expect.

A root canal treats infection or inflammation in the pulp, the soft tissue inside your tooth. The damaged pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned, filled and sealed. The goal is to save your natural tooth so you can keep chewing with it.

Does a root canal hurt?

Most people are comfortable during a root canal once the tooth is fully numb. When Dr. Gardner tells a patient they need one, he explains that the worst part is "just laying there in the chair with your mouth open" while the work gets done.

Getting you numb is where he starts. Patients tell us, without being asked, that Dr. Gardner is good at getting them numb, and he takes the time to make sure the area is fully numb before he begins. For longer visits, oral sedation and nitrous oxide are available so you can relax through the whole appointment.

The time a root canal can be painful is when the tooth has an active infection. If you come in with a toothache and swelling, Dr. Gardner will often put you on an antibiotic and bring you back in a couple of days, once the infection is under control. That gives you a better experience, and it lets him do a better job of cleaning out the tooth.

How long does a root canal take?

A root canal takes about 45 minutes. When the tooth is a back tooth that needs a crown, Dr. Gardner usually places the crown at the same appointment, so the whole visit can run about two hours.

A root canal and crown visit at our Winslow dental office usually goes like this:

Dr. Gardner numbs the tooth and completes the root canal.
He prepares the tooth for its crown during the same appointment.
Your crown is designed and milled in our office with CEREC technology. That takes about 45 minutes, and you wait while it's made.
You come back to the chair, and 10 or 15 minutes later your crown is cemented and you're done.

Two hours sounds like a long time in the dental chair. In Dr. Gardner's words, "that's not all in the chair." Part of that time is spent waiting while your crown is milled.

Do you need a crown after a root canal?

A back tooth almost always needs a crown after a root canal. A front tooth doesn't always need one.

Patients sometimes assume it works the other way around, too. Getting a crown doesn't always mean you need a root canal. Dr. Gardner often uses a crown to fix a tooth that's cracked or broken before it reaches the point of needing a root canal or an extraction. With the crown in place, you can brush, floss and chew on that tooth like any other. You can read more about our restorative dentistry services , including crowns.

How much does a root canal cost in Winslow, AZ?

Your cost depends on your tooth, whether it needs a crown at the same visit and what your insurance covers. Before anything is scheduled, you'll get a written treatment plan with ballpark pricing, so you know what to plan for.

Teresa, our Financial Coordinator, walks you through every option so you understand what you're paying, when you're paying it and what your insurance is covering. We're in-network with most major dental insurance plans, and our patients pay in several ways:

In-house payment plans
CareCredit
Cash, check and major credit cards
HSA or FSA

If you don't have dental insurance, ask about our in-house membership plan. You can see the plans we accept on our finances and insurance page .

If a tooth is hurting now, call us. We try to see toothaches the same day when we can, even if the first step is an x-ray and an antibiotic.

Why do Winslow patients choose Winslow Dental and Dr. Gardner for root canals?

Some of our patients drive a long way to see us, and Dr. Gardner plans root canal visits around that. Patients come to us from small communities and reservations across rural Arizona, sometimes driving up to two hours. Finishing the root canal and the crown at one appointment means they don't have to come back in two weeks for a final crown.

Root canals are also the work Dr. Gardner enjoys most. What he loves about dentistry is the procedural side, root canals, buildups, crowns and bridges: taking a tooth that's hurting and getting it back to functional. He'll try to save your tooth first, and he'll tell you straight whether it needs treatment now or can be watched.

Dr. Gardner grew up in Arizona, trained at Ohio State and came home to practice. He has been practicing dentistry for over 12 years and is the third dentist to call Winslow Dental home.

If you've been told you need a root canal, or a tooth has started to ache, call or text us at 928-289-4441 or send us a message . Same-day and next-day appointments are often available at our Winslow dental office.

Published by Winslow Dental (Dr. Brent Gardner).

Dentures or Implant Dentures in Winslow, AZ? How to Choose

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:33:11 GMT

Published by Winslow Dental.

If you're missing most of your teeth, or you've been told you soon will be, you're probably weighing two paths: a traditional denture or a denture held in place by dental implants. Both can give you a full smile again. They differ in how secure they feel, what they cost and how much treatment they take. Below, Dr. Brent Gardner shares how he walks patients through this choice at our Winslow dental office, so you can come to your consultation knowing what to ask.

What is a better option than dentures?

For many people, the better option is keeping the healthy natural teeth they still have. A partial denture fills the gaps and clasps onto your remaining teeth, which keeps it steady. When every tooth needs to be replaced, an implant-supported denture, one that snaps onto posts placed in the jawbone, holds more securely than a denture that rests on your gums.

Dr. Gardner recommends keeping your healthy teeth whenever they can be saved. Eating and chewing are much easier with your own teeth, and a denture can't match them. If you have good teeth that can be fixed, he'll recommend keeping them and building a partial denture around them. As long as you keep those teeth clean, that setup can last a long time.

How do traditional dentures and implant dentures compare?

The biggest differences are stability, cost and treatment time. The two options usually compare like this:

A traditional denture rests on your gums and stays in place through its fit. It takes several appointments and no surgery.
An implant-supported denture attaches to implants in your jawbone, so it moves less when you eat and talk. It needs a dental implant surgery step and healing time first.
A traditional denture is the more economical choice and often has some insurance coverage. Implant options cost more.
Implants need enough healthy jawbone to anchor in, so your bone health helps decide whether they're right for you.

Your first denture appointment usually includes a 3D cone beam scan and a panoramic x-ray. Those images show us your bone health and let us screen for any problems before we plan your treatment. You can read more about our restorative dentistry services in Winslow , including how we replace missing teeth.

How much do dentures cost compared to implant dentures in Winslow, AZ?

A traditional denture costs less than an implant-supported denture, and dental insurance often covers part of a traditional denture. Your total depends on how many teeth are being replaced, whether any teeth need to come out first, and whether implants are part of your plan.

Our team walks you through every option before treatment starts, so you know what you're paying, when you're paying it and what your insurance covers. We offer CareCredit, in-house payment plans and HSA or FSA payments. You can see the insurance plans we accept on our finances and insurance page .

Cost is also why Dr. Gardner often suggests a phased approach. You can start with a traditional denture and see how you do. Some patients do well with one and stay happy with it. If you want more security later, Dr. Gardner can "start adding some implants to help stabilize the denture so it's not flopping around," which makes it easier to eat a wider range of foods.

What is it like getting used to new dentures?

The first few days with new dentures are the hardest, and it gets easier with practice. Your gums may feel sore while they adjust, and eating and speaking take some time to relearn.

Dr. Gardner compares new dentures to a new wooden leg: nobody runs a marathon the day they get one. If you're planning on corn on the cob and steak the night you get your teeth, give yourself a little more time. It usually takes a couple of appointments to fine-tune the fit so you can eat and speak comfortably.

A few tips from our team:

Wear your dentures for short stretches at first, then build up.
Read a book out loud in front of a mirror. Practicing your speech helps smooth out a lisp.
Start with soft foods cut into small pieces.
Keep coming in for checkups. Your mouth changes over time, so a denture that fit well at first may need adjusting later. Even with a full denture, we recommend a visit at least every three to five years for x-rays and a screening.

Why do Winslow patients choose Winslow Dental and Dr. Gardner for dentures?

Patients choose Winslow Dental because Dr. Gardner starts with the most conservative plan that will work for you. He'll tell you plainly when your teeth are worth saving, even when a full denture sounds simpler. Then he lays out the pros and cons of each option so, in his words, "you've got all the information you need and you can make a choice." If a traditional denture works well for you and you enjoy it, he sees no reason to add implants or surgery.

Dr. Gardner grew up in Arizona, trained at Ohio State and came home to care for his hometown. He has practiced dentistry for over 12 years and is the third dentist to call Winslow Dental home, right in downtown Winslow. Patients know him for being thorough, direct and good at getting you numb.

If you're deciding between dentures and implants, the easiest first step is a conversation with Dr. Gardner. Call us at 928-289-4441 or send us a message to schedule a denture consultation at our Winslow dental office.

Published by Winslow Dental (Dr. Brent Gardner).

What Counts as a Dental Emergency in Winslow, AZ?

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:33:10 GMT

A dental emergency is anything that can't comfortably wait for a regular appointment — pain that keeps you up at night, swelling, a tooth that's been knocked out or loosened, a broken tooth, or a crown or filling that's come off. If that sounds like what you're dealing with, call Winslow Dental in downtown Winslow at 928-289-4441 , and Dr. Brent Gardner and the team will usually see you the same day or the next.

When something goes wrong with a tooth, the hardest part is often not knowing whether it's serious enough to call about, especially late in the day or when you're an hour's drive from the office. We'd always rather hear from you and tell you it can wait than have you sit up all night in pain, so this guide walks through what counts as an emergency, what to do in the first hour, and what happens once you reach us.

Knowing when a tooth can't wait

If you're in real pain, can't sleep, can't chew, or can see swelling in your face or gums, treat it as an emergency and call us — waiting it out usually means the problem grows while you lose more sleep over it. These are the situations we want to hear about the same day:

A toothache that keeps you up at night , or one that over-the-counter pain relief doesn't touch
Swelling in your gum, cheek or jaw , which usually means an infection is building
A tooth that's been knocked out or loosened , where every minute makes a difference
A broken or cracked tooth , especially one that's sharp against your tongue or sensitive to air
A crown or filling that's come off , leaving part of the tooth exposed

A small chip that doesn't hurt can usually wait a few days for a regular visit, and if you're somewhere in between and not sure, call and describe what you're feeling — we'll tell you straight whether you need to come in today.

Swelling or injury that needs a hospital first

Some situations are bigger than a tooth, and you deserve to be seen somewhere that can treat all of you: if swelling is spreading toward your eye or down your neck, if you're having trouble breathing or swallowing, if you have a fever along with swelling in your face, or if you've taken a hard hit to the face or jaw, go to the emergency room or call 911. Once you're stable, call us and we'll take care of the tooth itself.

Looking after a tooth in the first hour

Saving a tooth that's been knocked out

A knocked-out tooth has the best chance of staying yours when it's handled gently and gets back in place fast, so pick it up by the crown — the part you chew with — and keep your fingers off the root. If it's dirty, rinse it gently with water without scrubbing, and if you can, set it back in the socket and bite softly on a clean cloth to hold it there. If that isn't possible, keep it moist in a cup of milk or tucked between your cheek and gum, then call us right away. This is the same first aid the American Dental Association recommends.

Protecting a broken tooth or a lost crown

Rinse your mouth with warm water, save any pieces you find and bring them with you, and if a crown came off, keep it in a small bag or container so we can look at whether it can go back on. Until you're seen, chewing on the other side and skipping very hot, cold or sweet foods will keep the tooth from flaring up, and a cold compress on the outside of your cheek helps if there's any swelling.

Easing a toothache until you're seen

Warm salt water and a cold compress on the outside of your cheek can take the edge off, along with over-the-counter pain relief taken the way the label directs. Please don't hold an aspirin against the gum — it can burn the tissue and leave you sorer than before — and if there's any swelling at all, call us today, since swelling usually means infection and it rarely settles down on its own.

Reaching Dr. Gardner, even after hours

During office hours — Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm, and Friday from 8 am to noon — call 928-289-4441 and Chelsea at the front desk will find you the soonest time we have. After hours, leave a message: for dental emergencies, Dr. Gardner returns the call himself, so you're talking to the dentist who'll actually treat you, not an answering service.

You don't need to be a current patient to call, either. Our emergency care is open to anyone in Winslow and the surrounding towns, and a lot of our long-time patients first came to us on the worst day of a toothache.

Getting out of pain at your visit

We start with a quick exam and a digital X-ray so Dr. Gardner can see what's going on beneath the surface, and then he'll tell you straight whether the tooth can be saved or whether taking it out is the kinder long-term choice. You'll hear the plan and the price before any treatment starts, so nothing about the visit is a surprise.

Getting you comfortable comes first, and most emergencies can be treated at that same visit:

An infected nerve is usually treated with a root canal , which Dr. Gardner does in our own office, often in the same week
A broken tooth or a failed crown can often be rebuilt with a same-day crown made in the office, so you leave with the permanent crown instead of a temporary and a second drive
A tooth that can't be saved is removed gently, and we'll talk through your options for replacing it before you head home

Sometimes the kindest thing is to wait a few days: if a tooth is too infected to get fully numb, we'll start you on antibiotics, let the infection calm down, and bring you back to finish the work safely, and you'll go home with a clear plan and the medication you need to feel better in the meantime.

If you're nervous, tell us — Dr. Gardner takes his time making sure you're completely numb before he starts, and oral sedation and nitrous oxide are there for longer procedures or for anyone who'd rather feel more relaxed through it.

Knowing the price before anything starts

What an emergency visit costs depends on what the tooth needs, which is why we don't guess over the phone — you'll get pricing before treatment begins, and we'll check what your insurance covers first. Most dental plans cover emergency exams and basic emergency treatment, and for patients without insurance we offer CareCredit, in-house payment plans and a $299-a-year membership that includes an emergency exam. You'll find the details on our finances and insurance page , and if a crown ends up being part of the fix, our post on what a dental crown costs in Winslow walks through what goes into that price.

Questions patients ask about dental emergencies

Can I see an emergency dentist in Winslow, AZ if I'm not a patient?

Yes — Winslow Dental sees dental emergencies for anyone, not only established patients. Call 928-289-4441 and describe what's happening, and we'll usually see you the same day or the next. You'll hear the plan and the price before any treatment begins, so you can decide with the full picture.

What should I do about a dental emergency after hours in Winslow?

Call Winslow Dental at 928-289-4441 and leave a message, and for dental emergencies Dr. Brent Gardner returns the call himself. If you have swelling spreading toward your eye or neck, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a serious injury to your face, go to the emergency room first, then call us.

How quickly do I need a dentist for a knocked-out tooth?

Right away, because a knocked-out tooth has its best chance when it's back in place fast. Keep it moist in the socket, in milk, or between your cheek and gum, and never scrub the root. Then call Winslow Dental in Winslow at 928-289-4441 and let us know it's a knocked-out tooth.

Does Winslow Dental do emergency root canals and extractions?

Yes — Dr. Gardner does root canals and most extractions in our Winslow office, including many wisdom teeth, so most patients never need a referral. Only the most complex impacted wisdom teeth go to an oral surgeon. If a tooth is too infected to numb, we start with antibiotics and finish the work once it settles.

How much does an emergency dental visit cost in Winslow, AZ?

It depends on what the tooth needs, so Winslow Dental gives you pricing before any treatment starts and checks your insurance first. Most dental plans cover emergency exams and basic treatment, and for patients without insurance we offer CareCredit, in-house payment plans and a $299 yearly membership that includes an emergency exam.

Calling us today, wherever you're driving from

A tooth that hurts rarely gets easier or less expensive by waiting, and you deserve to eat, drink, and talk without thinking about it. Call Winslow Dental at 928-289-4441 or send us a message — we're at 321 W 2nd St in downtown Winslow, with parking right at the office, and families drive in from Holbrook, Joseph City, Heber-Overgaard and Flagstaff, so we'll do everything we can to get you seen the same day.

Written by the Winslow Dental team from Dr. Brent Gardner's own guidance for emergency patients — September 23, 2026.

What Does a Dental Crown Cost in Winslow, AZ?

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:33:09 GMT

If your dentist told you that you need a crown, the first question is usually the same one: what is this going to cost me? It's a fair question, and you shouldn't have to guess at it or dig through a national pricing website to get close to an answer. Here's an honest look at what goes into the price of a crown here in Winslow, what's usually included, what insurance typically does, and how getting it done in one visit changes the math.

What actually drives the price of a crown

A crown is a custom-made cap that covers a damaged tooth and restores it to full function. Because it's custom, the price isn't one flat number. It moves based on a handful of specific things:

The material. Porcelain, zirconia, and gold all price differently and all wear differently.
How much tooth is left. A tooth that's badly broken down may need a core buildup first to give the crown something to hold onto.
Whether the tooth needs a root canal. If the nerve is involved, that's a separate procedure with its own cost.
Whether you need an extraction instead. Sometimes the honest answer is that the tooth can't be saved, and that's a different conversation and a different number.

Published estimates for Arizona generally put a single crown somewhere in the four-figure range, but those numbers come from national aggregators, not from your mouth and not from this office. The only figure that matters is the one on your written treatment plan, and you'll have that before anything gets scheduled.

What's included — and what's billed separately

At most practices, including ours, the quoted crown fee covers the crown itself: the preparation of the tooth, the impression or digital scan, the crown, and seating it. What typically gets billed on its own:

The exam and X-rays that got you to the diagnosis
A core buildup, if the tooth needs one
A root canal, if the nerve is involved
Any extraction or bone work, if the tooth can't be saved

This is worth asking about anywhere you go, because a quote that sounds low sometimes just means fewer things were counted in it. When Teresa, our financial coordinator, sits down with you, she walks through the whole plan line by line — not just the crown fee — so the number you leave with is the number you actually pay.

How a same-day crown changes the math

The traditional way to do a crown is two appointments. You come in, the tooth gets prepped, you leave with a temporary crown, the lab makes the real one, and two or three weeks later you come back to have it placed.

We use CEREC technology in our office, which means your crown is designed, milled, and placed in a single visit. There's no temporary to wear, nothing to fall off while you're eating, and no second appointment.

If you're driving in from Holbrook, Joseph City, Heber-Overgaard, or anywhere else across northern Arizona, that second trip isn't a minor inconvenience — it's another half-day and another tank of gas. For a lot of our patients, the single-visit crown is the deciding factor, and it's worth weighing when you compare quotes between offices.

One thing to be clear about: a same-day crown is not a lesser crown. The materials are strong ceramic, and the fit comes from a digital scan rather than a tray of impression material. What you're saving is the wait, not the quality. Restoring a badly damaged tooth well is about the fit and the bite, not the turnaround time.

What if you don't have dental insurance?

Plenty of people in Winslow don't, and it shouldn't be the reason a cracked tooth goes untreated for a year.

We offer an in-house membership plan for $299 a year. It covers two routine cleanings, all necessary X-rays, one fluoride treatment, and one emergency exam visit — and it takes 20% off any other general dentistry treatment , crowns included, for the whole year. There are no claim forms, no annual maximums, and no waiting periods to sit through before the discount applies.

For a single crown, that 20% usually covers the cost of the membership several times over. If a crown is the reason you're reading this, the membership is worth asking about on the same phone call.

We also take most major dental plans — Aetna, Delta Dental, Cigna, Guardian, Ameritas, Principal, BCBS Health Choice, Arizona Complete Health, and most Access plans — and offer in-house payment plans, CareCredit, and HSA/FSA. You can see the full list on our insurance and financing page .

When you'll know your exact number

Before anything is scheduled. That's the whole policy.

You come in, Dr. Gardner examines the tooth, takes digital X-rays that appear on the screen immediately, and tells you what he sees. If a crown is what the tooth needs, you get a written treatment plan with your cost on it, including what your insurance is expected to cover, before you commit to anything.

And if the tooth doesn't need a crown, he'll tell you that too. Dr. Gardner is conservative by habit — he uses silver diamine fluoride and tooth-saving techniques before reaching for the drill, and a fair number of his patients found their way here after being told elsewhere that they needed more work than they did.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a dental crown cost in Winslow, AZ?

The price depends on the material, whether the tooth needs a buildup or root canal first, and your insurance coverage. Published Arizona estimates run into the four figures, but we give every patient a written treatment plan with their actual cost before any work is scheduled.

Does dental insurance cover crowns?

Most dental plans cover a portion of a crown when it's medically necessary, often around half after your deductible, up to your annual maximum. Coverage varies a lot by plan. We verify your benefits before treatment so you know your out-of-pocket number in advance.

How long do same-day crowns last?

A well-made ceramic crown commonly lasts ten to fifteen years or longer with good home care and regular checkups. Longevity depends more on your bite, your hygiene, and whether you grind your teeth than on whether the crown was milled in-office or in a lab.

Are same-day crowns as good as lab-made crowns?

Yes. Same-day crowns are milled from solid ceramic blocks and fitted using a digital scan of your tooth. The clinical outcomes are comparable to lab crowns for most cases. The difference is that you leave with the permanent crown instead of a temporary.

Can I get a crown without dental insurance?

Yes. Our $299 annual membership plan takes 20% off general dentistry treatment including crowns, and we offer in-house payment plans and CareCredit. Call us and we'll walk you through what the treatment costs and which payment route makes the most sense.

Talk to us before it gets worse

A cracked or failing tooth doesn't get cheaper by waiting. If something is bothering you, or you've been told you need a crown and want a second opinion, call Winslow Dental at 928-289-4441 or reach out through our contact page . Same-day and next-day appointments are often available, and you'll know what it costs before we start.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brent Gardner, DDS, Winslow Dental. Reviewed September 22, 2026.