Root canal therapy, also known as endodontic treatment, is a specialized procedure designed to save a tooth that has infected or inflamed pulp (the soft tissue inside your tooth containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue). When bacteria invade the pulp – often due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures, a crack, or trauma – it can cause severe pain and infection.
During a root canal, I carefully remove the damaged or infected pulp, thoroughly clean and disinfect the inside of the tooth (including the root canals), and then fill and seal the space. This process eliminates the infection, relieves pain, and protects the tooth from future bacterial invasion. By saving your natural tooth, we avoid the need for extraction and preserve your bite, jawbone health, and smile alignment. It’s a vital procedure for maintaining your oral health right here in Woodland Hills.
I’m Dr. Edmond Ahdoot, and at Smiles By Eddie, my top priority is to help you maintain a healthy, pain-free, and complete smile. If you’re experiencing severe tooth pain, prolonged sensitivity, or swelling, it could be a sign that the nerve inside your tooth is infected or inflamed. In many cases, root canal therapy is the advanced treatment that can save your natural tooth from extraction, alleviate your discomfort, and restore your oral health. My team and I are dedicated to providing gentle, effective root canal treatment right here in Woodland Hills, ensuring your comfort and protecting your smile for years to come.
Root canal therapy becomes necessary when the dental pulp becomes infected, inflamed, or dies. This can happen for several reasons. During your thorough examinations at my Woodland Hills dental office, I meticulously look for signs that might indicate the need for this treatment.
You might need root canal therapy if you experience:
- Severe Toothache: Persistent, throbbing pain, especially when chewing or biting down. This pain often doesn’t subside and can worsen over time.
- Prolonged Sensitivity: Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures that lingers even after the source of the temperature is removed.
- Swelling and Tenderness: Swelling in the gums around the affected tooth, or tenderness and swelling in your face or neck.
- Pimples on the Gums: A small, pimple-like bump on the gum near the painful tooth, which may intermittently release pus (indicating infection).
- Tooth Discoloration: Darkening or discoloration of the tooth, indicating that the pulp inside has died.
- Pain When Pressure is Applied: Sensitivity or pain when pressure is applied to the tooth.
- Deep Decay or Injury: An X-ray might reveal deep decay reaching the pulp, or previous trauma that has damaged the tooth’s interior.
My team and I are committed to making your root canal experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Root canal therapy is often completed in one or two visits to my Woodland Hills dental office, depending on the complexity of the case. Here’s what you can expect:
- Diagnosis and Anesthesia: I’ll begin by accurately diagnosing the problem with X-rays and a thorough examination. Once confirmed, I’ll administer a local anesthetic to completely numb the tooth and surrounding area, ensuring you feel no pain during the procedure. For anxious patients, we also offer various sedation options to help you relax.
- Access Opening: A small opening is created in the crown of the tooth to access the pulp chamber and the root canals.
- Pulp Removal & Cleaning: Using specialized, fine instruments, I will carefully remove the infected or inflamed pulp tissue from inside the pulp chamber and the root canals. Each canal is meticulously cleaned, shaped, and disinfected to remove all bacteria and debris.
- Filling and Sealing: Once the canals are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, they are filled with a biocompatible, rubber-like material called gutta-percha and sealed with a special adhesive cement. This prevents reinfection and protects the tooth’s interior.
- Temporary Filling/Restoration: A temporary filling or crown is placed over the access opening to protect the tooth until your permanent restoration is ready.
- Permanent Restoration (Crown is Key!): After root canal therapy, the tooth often becomes more brittle, especially back teeth that endure heavy chewing forces. To protect the treated tooth from fracture and restore its full function, a permanent dental crown is typically placed over it. This is a crucial final step to ensure the long-term success of your root canal. We’ll discuss your crown options, including beautiful all-ceramic choices, at your follow-up appointment.
DR. EDMOND
AHDOOT
When faced with the need for a root canal, you want a dentist who is experienced, precise, and genuinely cares about your comfort. Here’s why patients in Woodland Hills, CA trust Smiles By Eddie for their root canal therapy:
- Pain Relief & Tooth Preservation: My primary goal is to alleviate your pain and save your natural tooth from extraction. I use advanced techniques to ensure effective treatment and successful outcomes.
- Gentle & Compassionate Care: I understand that root canals can cause anxiety for some patients. My team and I prioritize your comfort, using gentle methods and offering sedation options to make your experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
- Precision & Advanced Technology: I utilize modern endodontic instruments and techniques to ensure precise cleaning and sealing of the root canals, maximizing the success rate of your treatment.
- Comprehensive Approach: Beyond the root canal procedure itself, I will guide you through the entire process, including the crucial final restoration with a dental crown, ensuring your tooth is fully protected and functional for the long term.
- Experienced & Trusted: With extensive experience in performing root canal therapy, you can rest assured you’re in skilled hands right here in your local Woodland Hills dental office.
- Conveniently Located: Our practice is easily accessible for all residents of Woodland Hills and our surrounding communities, making it simple to get urgent and ongoing care.
FAQ
With modern anesthetics and techniques, root canal therapy is no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. The procedure itself is designed to relieve the severe pain caused by the infection, not create more. Many patients report feeling little to no discomfort during the treatment.
A root canal can typically be completed in one or two appointments. The length of the visit depends on the complexity of the tooth’s root canal system and the severity of the infection.
After the root canal, the tooth may feel sensitive for a few days as it heals. It’s crucial to have a permanent restoration, usually a dental crown, placed over the treated tooth. This protects the weakened tooth from fracturing and restores its full function.
For most teeth, especially molars and premolars that withstand heavy chewing forces, a crown is highly recommended and often essential. Root canal therapy can make a tooth more brittle over time, and a crown acts like a protective helmet, preventing it from breaking.
While your tooth is healing and before a permanent crown is placed, it’s best to avoid chewing on the treated tooth. Stick to soft foods and chew on the opposite side of your mouth.
The only true alternative to root canal therapy for an infected tooth is extraction (removing the tooth). While extraction eliminates the immediate problem, it then requires a replacement like a dental implant or bridge to maintain your bite and prevent further dental issues. Saving your natural tooth with a root canal is almost always the preferred option.
Root canal therapy has a very high success rate, often exceeding 95% when performed properly. With good oral hygiene and a protective crown, a treated tooth can last a lifetime.
Most patients can return to their normal activities the same day or the day after a root canal. You might feel some tenderness, but severe pain is uncommon.
The most common causes are deep decay that reaches the pulp, cracks or chips in the tooth that expose the pulp, repeated dental procedures on the same tooth, or direct trauma to the tooth.
Maintaining excellent oral hygiene (brushing and flossing daily), attending regular dental check-ups and cleanings, and promptly treating any cavities or dental injuries can significantly reduce your risk of needing a root canal.
