Why Should I Choose Root Canal Therapy?
Your toothache, gum inflation, or tooth sensitivity may be an sign of an infection inside your mouth. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your mouth and even the rest of your body to cause more long-term health damage. Therefore, it is important to address it as soon as you can before it’s too late!
A root canal may be best to tackle the infection. With root canal therapy, you can restore the health of your tooth and save the tooth instead. This also helps you avoid having to do a drastic procedure like an extraction, later on.
During the root canal treatment, you won’t feel a thing since you will be numbed all the way down to your nerves. Giving us the chance to clean out the infected area with ease.
Depending on the case, root canals usually coincide with the procedure of a filling or dental crown for restoration.
Benefits of ROOT CANAL THERAPY
RELIEVES TOOTH PAIN
IMPROVES ORAL AND OVERALL HEALTH
SAVE YOUR NATURAL TEETH
STOPS SPREAD OF INFECTION & PREVENTS FURTHER TOOTH DECAY
Did You Know...
A root canal can save you from requiring a more invasive procedure, like an extraction.
Digital Imaging
We utilize advanced digital imaging techniques to aid our diagnosis for Root Canal Therapy in Huntington Beach. This allows us to obtain quicker, more efficient ways to examine and proceed with the treatment. We know how big a procedure like a root canal can be, and our goal is to make the experience as painless and as comfortable as possible for you.
The Root Canal Treatment
Diagnostics & Preparation
We try to locate your source of dental pain via comprehensive exam and x-rays. Depending on the severity of your infection, a root canal therapy may be needed.
With a root canal therapy, you can expect the treatment site to be numbed all the way down to the nerves.
Removing Decay & Infected Pulp
Once you’re comfortable and fully numbed, we will begin the process of removing any decayed or infected material.
1. We begin at the enamel and move inwards, toward the pulp.
2. We clear out the infected pulp.
3. We clean the canals and flush the area with a special disinfectant to eliminate any remaining infection.
Filling & Sealing
Once your tooth has been completely cleaned and sanitized, the interior will be filled with a rubber-like material called “gutta-percha.” An inert material, gutta-percha replaces the extracted pulp and helps to support the tooth and maintain its structure.
When the interior of the tooth has been filled, it will be restored with either a filling or a dental crown, depending on the extent of the decay and how much healthy enamel remains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does root canal treatment hurt?
No! Although it’s a common myth that root canal therapy hurts, it’s actually the toothache caused by infection that is painful. With modern dental techniques and technology, a root canal is no more uncomfortable than getting a dental filling.
We will numb your mouth with anesthesia. However, if you prefer sedation, we will need to refer to dentist within our network who has the equipment for it. Overall, root canal therapy is the best way to alleviate the pain and discomfort of an infected tooth.
Is root canal therapy covered by insurance?
Root canal therapy is usually covered, at least in part, by most dental insurance plans. However, it’s always a good idea to get in touch with your insurance provider to gain a thorough understanding of your benefits and to find out what type of treatments are covered.
Do I always need a dental crown after a root canal?
While crowns are generally the best way to protect your tooth after a root canal and are always the recommendation for your posterior teeth, they are not always necessary. If there is enough enamel left on front teeth that have gotten a root canal, a filling may be used instead of a crown.
Why would I need root canal therapy?
Root canal therapy is required if your tooth becomes infected, which most often happens one of two ways:
A serious cavity can eat away at the outer layers of your enamel and dentin until it reaches the pulp. Once the pulp, which is responsible for keeping your tooth alive, is exposed, it becomes vulnerable to bacteria and becomes infected.
Dental trauma that cracks or chips a tooth can expose the nerve and blood vessel-filled pulp to oral bacteria.
If left untreated, either situation will lead to the infection, decay, and eventual death of your tooth’s pulp. When the infection starts to take hold, you’ll likely begin experiencing an array of symptoms like a toothache, inflamed gums near the tooth, and tooth sensitivity.
Can root canal treatment fail? What happens if it does?
Although it’s rare, root canal treatment can fail. If there is any remaining bacteria or decay left behind that wasn’t removed during the initial root canal, the tooth infection may return. If this happens to you, you’ll need to have another root canal to ensure the infection is completely removed and doesn’t have a chance to return again.