root canal
Save time and money by avoiding extraction and replacement procedures.
Eliminate the pain and discomfort of a damaged or decayed tooth.
Restore your tooth with a natural, beautiful porcelain ceramic crown.
Root canal therapy is a restorative dentistry procedure used to remove infected tooth pulp from the inside of your tooth and eliminate the source of your painful tooth infection. When your tooth enamel is damaged, usually due to an oral injury or tooth decay, oral bacteria can find their way into the pulp, which is filled with blood vessels and nerves. This causes serious pain and discomfort, and can eventually result in the death of the tooth if it is not treated.
The first step of a root canal is to clean your mouth and numb the site. Then, the damaged or infected pulp is removed through a very small hole. After this, Dr. Tran will use special dental tools to remove all of the infected material from your tooth and a special solution is used to eliminate bacteria.
Once the interior of the tooth has been completely cleaned and disinfected, it is filled with a special material called “gutta-percha,” which supports the tooth and replaces the missing pulp. Often, Dr. Tran will cover your tooth with a dental crown to prevent further damage.
The cost of a root canal varies based on your health, sedation requirements, the location of your tooth, the extent of damage, and a number of other factors. For an accurate estimate, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Dr. Tran at (858) 264-2555.
You will likely experience some discomfort and soreness in the treatment site after your procedure has been completed. However, you should be able to get back to your normal day-to-day life immediately after the procedure. Just use care when brushing and eating with the affected tooth. After about 3 days, most patients experience no more discomfort. If you are feeling pain and discomfort after 3 days, schedule a follow-up with Dr. Tran to ensure that there are no complications with your healing process.
If you don’t restore your tooth with a root canal, your condition will continue to get worse. Tooth infections will not go away on their own and if left untreated, this condition will eventually lead to the loss of your tooth. As soon as you notice signs and symptoms of an infection, call us to schedule a same-day appointment to get the care you need. If your tooth becomes untreatable, an extraction may become necessary and you will need more extensive restorative dental work to save your tooth, such as a dental implant or denture.
A tooth becomes infected when the outer layers of enamel and dentin are breached and the interior root pulp is attacked by oral bacteria. Most commonly, a tooth becomes infected due to a serious, untreated cavity that weakens the enamel and exposes the tooth’s pulp. However, a tooth may also become infected if it is chipped or cracked by an oral injury, teeth grinding, or even accidentally chewing a non-food object. A deep crack can expose the pulp, leading to infection.
Regardless of the cause of tooth infection, the recommended treatment is typically root canal therapy. During this treatment, the damaged pulp is removed and the tooth is disinfected. The tooth is then capped with a dental crown to protect the remaining enamel and dentin.
The most common sign of an infected tooth is a painful, prolonged toothache that lasts more than a day or two. As the pulp continues to become more infected, the pain may get worse and is often accompanied by headaches and pain in your jaw.
However, not all infected teeth cause a toothache. Other common signs and symptoms include:
If you find that you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to get help right away. Immediate care is essential for saving your tooth.