Root Canal
The sooner you take action to stop tooth decay, the better. Routine dental visits and a healthy oral hygiene routine are key, but sometimes infections still happen. When decay or bacteria get into the soft inner part of the tooth, it is time for a root canal in Mission Viejo. And don’t worry, at Mission Viejo Dental Specialist, this procedure is fast, comfortable, and keeps your smile healthy.
Don’t let tooth decay threaten your smile! Contact Mission Viejo Dental Specialist today to sign up for a root canal and get your health back on track. Our specialists use state-of-the-art methods and treatments to protect your oral health and keep your smile bright.
Root Canal in Mission Viejo
The sooner you take action to stop tooth decay, the better. Routine dental visits and a healthy oral hygiene routine are key, but sometimes infections still happen. When decay or bacteria get into the soft inner part of the tooth, it is time for a root canal in Mission Viejo. And don’t worry, at Mission Viejo Dental Specialist, this procedure is fast, comfortable, and keeps your smile healthy.
Don’t let tooth decay threaten your smile! Contact Mission Viejo Dental Specialist today to sign up for a root canal and get your health back on track. Our specialists use state-of-the-art methods and treatments to protect your oral health and keep your smile bright.
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What Is a Root Canal?
A root canal is NOT the painful, scary procedure that pop culture seems to portray it as. This routine dental procedure is actually quite comfortable and on about the same level as getting a dental feeling in terms of comfort level. A root canal in Mission Viejo aims to save an infected tooth by clearing out affected tissue and filling in the canal. In most cases, you can get the entire procedure completed in a single visit to our office. In other words, a root canal is a procedure to save the life of your tooth and keep you healthy.
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>> How Does a Root Canal Work?
First, we evaluate your tooth and see what the cause of your symptoms is. If it is indeed an infection, we can schedule you for a root canal, sometimes even on the same day in time-sensitive cases. We start the procedure by ensuring you are comfortable with local anesthesia to numb the treatment area. Only once you are fully comfortable and relaxed do we start the treatment.
The main part of the procedure consists of two parts: cleaning and sealing. First we clean out the infected pulp of the tooth, removing any material that could allow the infection to continue or spread. Once the interior of your tooth is entirely sanitary, we seal it off to prevent any new bacteria from getting into the canal. That really is about all there is to it, just a few steps and you will have almost immediate relief from your symptoms.
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Do I Need a Root Canal?
If you have an infected tooth, it is high time for a root canal, otherwise you put yourself at risk. Postponing dental treatment not only can lead to worse pain and other symptoms, but it can result in your tooth dying. And a dead tooth will usually fall out eventually. Replacing a tooth is usually much more expensive and involved than treating it early on.
Symptoms of an Infected Tooth
- Significant pain when biting down or eating
- The appearance of pimples on gums
- Cracks in your tooth (or chips in the tooth)
- Increased sensitivity to temperatures that lingers
- Swollen, discolored, or tender/painful gums
If you have noticed any of these, we recommend calling Mission Viejo Dental Specialist today to get your appointment locked in. With a quick root canal, you can eliminate all these symptoms safely and effectively.
Can I Postpone Treatment?
If you have any of the symptoms we covered, waiting is generally a bad idea. You might notice a sudden lessening of pain, but that might only mean the infection has killed the nerves in your tooth. The infection is still there, but your tooth simply cannot feel it anymore! Waiting to treat an infected tooth can lead to the infection spreading to other teeth or even other parts of your body. Instead, give us a call and we can take care of it for you in no time!
Is a Root Canal Painful?
We take every step to ensure that our patients are comfortable no matter what procedure we perform. From routine fillings to dental implant surgery, our goal is to provide a pleasant and beneficial experience on all fronts. While root canals might once have been unpleasant years ago, modern dental methods have made this a comfortable routine procedure. Most of our patients in Mission Viejo say their root canal was no more uncomfortable than a simple dental filling.
We thoroughly numb the treatment area to keep you relaxed and comfortable from start to finish for your root canal. After a root canal, patients may feel some soreness around the treated tooth for about a day. However, this is usually quite mild and can be managed quite easily with even over-the-counter pain medication.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Stop tooth infections in their tracks with a root canal in Mission Viejo today. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, we even offer same-day emergency visits to take care of your situation! Call Mission Viejo Dentist today to take control of your dental health and keep your teeth safe.
Root canal therapy costs between $700 and $2,000, depending on the complexity of the case and whether or not you require additional procedures. If you need a dental crown after your root canal, it is paid for separately.
A root canal procedure typically takes between 40 and 90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the case and the number of canals in the tooth. Teeth at the back of the mouth have more canals than front teeth, and treating them is likely to take longer.
Root canal therapy is designed to save severely infected teeth from extraction. Provided that you get the procedure in time, the infection can be removed and the tooth’s function restored. You may require a dental crown after a root canal if the structure of your tooth is significantly weakened by infection.
However, if the tooth’s structure is severely damaged by prolonged, untreated infection, your dentist might not be able to save the tooth with a root canal. In such cases, the tooth is extracted. That is why we recommend getting treatment as soon as you notice the symptoms of infection.
The majority of patients recover after root canal therapy within 7 to 10 days. During this time, you are likely to experience mild tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages, and soreness of the tooth or the surrounding gum tissue. These symptoms can be effectively managed with over-the-counter painkillers and will gradually subside as the procedure site heals.
Depending on the severity of the infection, your dentist might offer you the following alternatives to a root canal:
- Tooth extraction is used when the infection has severely damaged the tooth’s structure.
- Pulp capping involves placing a medicated material directly over the exposed nerve to promote tissue repair and seal it. It can be used when the nerve or pulp is exposed but is not severely infected.
- Pulpotomy removes only the infected portion of the pulp, while the healthy nerve tissue in the roots remains intact.
It is best to avoid eating until the numbness from the local anesthetic has fully worn off, typically a few hours after the procedure, to prevent accidentally biting your cheek or tongue. Once feeling returns, stick to soft foods for the first few days and avoid chewing directly on the treated tooth until it has been fully restored with a crown or filling. Hard, crunchy, or sticky foods should be avoided during recovery, as the tooth may be temporarily more sensitive and fragile.
Yes, although it is uncommon, a tooth that has been treated with root canal therapy can become reinfected. This can happen if the seal on the tooth breaks down over time, new decay develops, or the crown becomes damaged and allows bacteria to re-enter the tooth. If reinfection occurs, your dentist may recommend a root canal retreatment, which involves reopening the tooth, removing the old filling material, cleaning the canals again, and resealing the tooth. In some cases, a procedure called an apicoectomy, a minor surgical procedure to remove the tip of the tooth’s root, may be recommended.
Root canal therapy is typically covered by dental insurance, as it is considered a medically necessary procedure rather than a cosmetic one. Most dental insurance plans cover between 50% and 80% of the cost of root canal therapy after your deductible has been met, though the exact amount depends on your specific plan and provider. Coverage may also vary depending on which tooth is being treated, as some plans differentiate between front and back teeth. It is important to note that if you require a dental crown following your root canal, that is billed separately and will fall under a different coverage category. We recommend contacting your insurance provider before your appointment to confirm your benefits and understand your out-of-pocket costs. Our team is also happy to help you navigate your coverage. Feel free to call us at 949-877-3345 with any questions.