Repair, Restore, and Retain Natural Teeth with Root Canal Treatment (RCT)
Each tooth has a bundle of nerves inside at the centermost part (pulp). If your tooth is infected, the pulp becomes inflamed, resulting in severe pain. Unfortunately, an infected tooth can’t be cured with antibiotics or the body’s immune system — only a root canal can save an infected tooth from extraction.
Root canal therapy (endodontic therapy) from Brentwood Dental Care in Brentwood, California, carefully removes the infected pulp tissue before restoring the tooth with a filling or crown for lifetime function. Although root canals have a bad reputation, don’t fall for the misconceptions. Thanks to modern anesthetics, root canals save badly damaged teeth and are virtually painless.
Signs you need a root canal
Cavities, faulty dental work, and tooth damage can cause harmful bacteria to infiltrate your tooth’s chamber. Dental infection causes an increase in pressure within the tooth, hence the reason your tooth pains when pressure is applied when chewing or brushing teeth.
Besides pain, the other signs you need to see a root canal dentist include:
- Tooth sensitivity, especially when consuming hot and cold drinks
- A recurrent gum-like pimple on the gums
- Tooth discoloration (an infected tooth tends to darken as the pulp dies)
- Pus drainage from the tooth
Recognizing an infected tooth isn’t always easy. Harmful bacteria can kill the nerves, causing pain and sensitivity to go unnoticed. Regular check-ups at our office can help diagnose tooth infections and other problems for prompt treatment.
The root canal procedure
Despite the bad rap, root canals are generally painless procedures. The pain associated with root canals stems from the tooth infection, which dissipates once we remove the diseased tissues.
While all root canal treatments are patient-based, these treatments generally follow the steps below.
- Prioritizing your comfort: Since a root canal is more extensive than a cavity treatment, we always want to ensure maximum comfort. Before treatment, we administer local anesthesia to minimize pain, although patients with dental fear or a low tolerance to pain can benefit from sedation dentistry.
- Tooth preparation: We’ll use a dental dam to isolate your tooth to avoid contamination from saliva. Then, we’ll drill a small hole at the top of the crown to access the pulp chamber.
- Pulpectomy: We’ll remove the diseased pulp chamber and all its contents using the access hole created. Next, we thoroughly clean and sanitize the pulp chamber and root canals to eliminate all traces of bacteria.
- Tooth restoration: After cleaning, we’ll fill the pulp chamber and canals with a rubber-like material (gutta-percha) to prevent future bacterial infections. The final step is to restore your tooth with a composite filling or dental crown.
Root Canals FAQ
How much does root canal treatment cost in Brentwood, California?
Root canal costs vary according to the tooth being treated, the extent of infection, and the restoration required afterward. For example, some teeth may be restored with a composite filling, while others need a dental crown for additional protection. Dr. Don Mungcal can examine the affected tooth and provide treatment-specific pricing.
Does dental insurance cover root canal therapy?
Many dental insurance plans provide some coverage for root canal treatment because it is performed to treat infection and preserve a natural tooth. However, deductibles, annual maximums, coverage percentages, and benefits for the final restoration vary by policy. Patients should verify their individual benefits to understand their expected out-of-pocket expenses.
What are the benefits of having a root canal instead of extracting the tooth?
Root canal therapy allows Dr. Mungcal to address infection within a tooth while preserving its natural structure. Saving the tooth avoids creating a gap that could require a replacement afterward. Once restored with a filling or crown, the treated tooth can continue contributing to normal oral function.
How can I find a dentist who performs root canals near me in Brentwood, CA?
Patients seeking root canal treatment in Brentwood can contact Dr. Don Mungcal at Brentwood Dental Care. The practice evaluates painful, sensitive, discolored, or otherwise concerning teeth to determine whether infection is present and whether endodontic therapy provides an appropriate way to retain the affected tooth.
Who provides root canal treatment near Westwood and Beverly Hills?
Brentwood Dental Care provides root canal therapy in Brentwood and serves patients from surrounding communities, including Westwood and Beverly Hills. Patients from Santa Monica, Culver City, Bel-Air, West Hollywood, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and other nearby areas can also contact the practice about treatment for an infected or damaged tooth.
What symptoms might indicate that I need a root canal?
Possible warning signs include significant tooth pain, discomfort when pressure is applied, lingering sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, darkening of a tooth, pus drainage, or a recurring pimple-like bump on the gums. Some infected teeth produce few noticeable symptoms, making routine dental examinations important for identifying hidden problems.
What can cause an infection inside a tooth?
Deep cavities, damage to a tooth, and problems associated with previous dental work can allow bacteria to reach the pulp. This innermost portion contains nerves and other tissues. When bacteria invade the area, inflammation and infection can develop, sometimes creating considerable pressure and discomfort within the tooth.
Are root canals painful?
The discomfort commonly associated with root canals frequently comes from the infection rather than the treatment itself. Brentwood Dental Care administers local anesthesia before treatment to promote comfort. Patients who experience dental anxiety or have difficulty tolerating treatment may also benefit from sedation dentistry when appropriate.
What happens during root canal treatment at Brentwood Dental Care?
After making the patient comfortable, Dr. Mungcal isolates the affected tooth with a dental dam. He gains access to its interior, removes compromised pulp tissue, and carefully prepares the internal spaces. The treated area is filled with gutta-percha before the tooth receives an appropriate final restoration.
Will I need a dental crown after my root canal?
A crown may be recommended depending on the condition and location of the treated tooth. Brentwood Dental Care restores root canal-treated teeth using either composite fillings or dental crowns as appropriate. Dr. Mungcal will determine which option offers suitable protection based on how much healthy tooth structure remains.
Painless root canals in Brentwood, California
We want to change what you have read or heard about root canals. Dr. Don Mungcal and the team offer safe and gentle root canals in a relaxing environment. Find out more by calling (424) 407-3569 or request an online appointment today.
Root canal therapy is a very common procedure. It has a reputation of being undesirable and painful. But when done properly it is actually painless. Every tooth in your mouth is composed of a crown and a root. When a cavity or bacteria penetrates the tooth, the root and its nerves become irritated. As a result, the bacteria within the pulp cavity needs to be removed and cleaned in order to restore the tooth to its healthy state. Following the procedure, the tooth is fragile and consequently is restored with the natural crown for a lifetime of durability. Root canals have a success rate of 95% or greater. Most root canal are diagnosed by patients’ sensitivities to a specific tooth. Be sure to consult your dentist any symptoms or discomfort occur.
