The thought of having a root canal treatment is frightening to some patients, however my patients rarely experience any discomfort during the entire procedure. My 30 years of experience and techniques has given me the skills to do root canal treatments in a way that makes my patients comfortable.

 

A Root canal treatment is done when a nerve, also called the pulp, has degenerated either through deep decay or trauma. Initially the nerve becomes inflamed causing a toothache. Eventually this inflammation may reverse or may become infected. Sometimes the pulp may degenerate slowly and without symptoms of pain. The painless abscess or infection may only be evident through  viewing a radiograph. Without treatment, an infection may become more severe and either build up pressure or drain either through the tooth opening or through the side of the jaw bone called a fistula. An infected tooth will never heal on its own. As it gets worse it will continue to be a source of infection that depletes your immune system which can affect your entire body. As long as there is enough tooth structure to do a restoration we will recommend doing root canal therapy to save your tooth. The good news is that is can be treated quickly and relief from pain is immediate in many cases.

• Deep decay contacting nerve Deep decay contacting nerve
• Infection spread to bone Infection spread to bone
• Dental File Dental File
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To get to the infected tooth pulp I would give a local aesthetic to the area and then make a small opening through the top of the tooth down into the pulp chamber. During the treatment the nerve and pulp are removed and the canal inside the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Since the root canal treatment is done through the top of the tooth a temporary material will be placed over the access hole until a permanent restoration is done. After the root canal treatment it will be necessary to place a crown over the entire tooth to ensure that the tooth will not fracture. Without the pulp the tooth will become brittle and can break easily with chewing and pressure.

The nerve in an adult tooth is not necessary to maintain itself in the jaw bone. A root canal treatment and permanent restoration can return a tooth close to its natural function and appearance.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact my office - conveniently located in University Towne Centre (UTC) - La Jolla, San Diego: (858) 552-1223 |  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it