Root Canal Treatment in Sun Valley, CA

Tooth pain is one of the most uncomfortable and painful conditions a person may ever deal with. Sometimes, these teeth require root canal therapy to remove the discomfort.  Our Sun Valley team at Parsa Dental team is highly experienced in root canal treatment. At Parsa Dental, we offer gentle root canal treatments to keep you smiling and healthy.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a form of dental treatment that can help prevent a dying or abscessed tooth from being removed. Root canal therapy (endodontic treatment) is used to treat infections or injuries in the pulp tissue in the middle of a tooth. This is usually an infection such as an abscess, and it’s most often caused by untreated decay, deep cracks, or injury to the teeth.

If left untreated, the pulp tissue will die or develop an abscess and cause significant pain. Our Sun Valley dentist removes the infected tissues and clean and shape the inside of the root to seal out any new bacterial infections.

An endodontic procedure typically takes one hour to ninety minutes to complete depending on which tooth is affected.

Signs and Symptoms That You May Need a Root Canal

Rather than fillings or crowns, which repair the outermost layers of teeth, root canal treatments are needed when the nerve becomes involved. Root canals may be required when a tooth has an abscess or is severely cracked or broken. Common scenarios where root canals are needed include:

• Severe tooth pain
• Traumatic injuries
• Hypersensitivity to hot temperatures
• Abscessed teeth
• Deep areas of tooth decay
• Cracks that extend into the tooth root

Our Sun Valley dentist will use an X-ray to assess the areas inside and around your tooth root to screen for cysts, abscesses, or internal tooth damage.

How Does Root Canal Treatment Work?

For a root canal, we make sure that you are comfortable prior to the procedure by using local anesthesia. Root canal treatment involves removing most of the pulp from inside your tooth and then sealing it off to prevent reinfection. The procedure is like a filling that extends into the root of the tooth rather than one that’s limited to the upper portion of your tooth anatomy.

A crown is almost always placed over your endodontically treated tooth to protect it. Because endodontically treated are no longer vital (alive,) they tend to become more brittle over time. The crown will help reinforce the remaining tooth structure so that you can bite and chew normally.

Do Root Canals Hurt?

It is a common misconception that root canal treatment hurts. The reality is that root canals help relieve the source of your tooth pain rather than cause additional discomfort. In fact, root canal treatment is like any routine dental treatment. The teeth are numbed with a local anesthetic beforehand so that you won’t have to feel anything more than a little pressure. Additional local anesthetic can be used if your tooth feels sensitive.

Because abscessed teeth can interfere with local anesthetic’s ability to work properly, our Sun Valley dentist may prescribe an antibiotic for you to take leading up to your appointment. The antibiotic will reduce any swelling or drainage so that numbing medications work more effectively. Just remember that the antibiotic will not prevent any reinfection, so a root canal will still be required.

Additionally, sedation may also be available upon request to help you relax as best as possible.

Root Canal Aftercare

After root canal treatment, your mouth might be slightly sensitive where the local anesthetic was placed or from having your tooth gently propped open for an extended period of time. The good news is that endodontic treatment removes the infected nerve, so your tooth can no longer transmit pain or sensitivity sensations.

To prevent any recurring decay or damage to your treated tooth, floss and brush around it daily and schedule regular checkups. A protective crown will help reduce any accelerated wear or breakage in your enamel since the tooth will be more brittle than normal.

Importance of Root Canals

A root canal is a procedure that removes the infected pulp from a tooth to prevent the complete extraction of that tooth. The pulp contains nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. A cavity can cause an abscessed tooth which would require endodontic treatment to remove it. With no treatment, an abscessed tooth can continue to spread infection throughout the mouth and face and could even lead to a medical emergency. For this reason, it’s important to have your teeth checked by a dentist regularly.

Even if your tooth doesn’t hurt, you might need a root canal. Because the nerve of your tooth is compromised, it may not relay symptoms properly. You could have a severe infection or dying tooth without ever feeling a thing.

Root Canal Prevention

To prevent a root canal, it’s essential to treat any cavities early while they are still small. Minimally invasive restorations such as fillings can prevent the spread of decay and infection. Without treatment, the cavities will only get worse and eventually lead to an abscessed tooth, which would then require root canal treatment and unwanted pain.

Cost of Root Canal Treatment

A root canal treatment costs as much as a crown or bridge but can save you thousands of dollars in added fees related to an extraction and future tooth replacement. Especially considering that an endodontically-treated tooth can last for decades after the procedure. A root canal is your tooth’s last hope of avoiding an extraction. Depending on which tooth needs treatment and the number of roots it has, a typical root canal costs anywhere between $500 to $1500. To reduce your out-of-pocket expenses, we will work with your insurance carrier to maximize the benefits you have available. Flexible payment plans are also available.

Sun Valley Root Canal Procedure

If you have a severe toothache or visible abscess, you may need a root canal. Call our Sun Valley, CA dentist today to discuss endodontic treatment at Parsa Dental. We’ll be happy to answer any questions that you have.

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Questions Answered on This Page

• What is a Root Canal?
• Signs and Symptoms That You May Need a Root Canal
• How Does Root Canal Treatment Work?
• Do Root Canals Hurt?
• Root Canal Aftercare
• Importance of Root Canals
• Root Canal Prevention

Related Topics

• Dental Fillings
• Dental Crowns
• Tooth Extraction

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Definition of common root canal terminology

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Hear From Our Patients

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Helpful links: WebMD (Root Canal Therapy) | ADA (Glossary of Dental Terms)