Most people groan at the mention of root canal therapy, but this common treatment is incredibly important and saves teeth from extraction and eliminates pain. A badly infected or damaged tooth can cause you to suffer from chronic tooth pain and sensitivity. If you have these symptoms, reach out to Beachside Smiles in Manhattan Beach, CA, immediately for emergency dental care to ease your discomfort and save your smile.

The Ins and Outs of Root Canals

When you understand why root canals are necessary, it can make undergoing this treatment much easier.

  • There is a space under each tooth root called the root canal.
  • Dental pulp lives within this canal and is made up of nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissues.
  • The dentin and pulp are living things and make their discomfort known when tooth decay or infection reaches them.
  • Without root canals, infections can spread to the bone around the tooth and cause an abscess or even tooth loss.

It’s not only tooth decay and tooth infections that create a need for root canals. If you suffer dental trauma in an accident, fall, or sporting match, a tooth and its pulp can be damaged and require root canal therapy right away.

Signs You Might Need Root Canal Therapy

If you are experiencing extreme discomfort, you may suspect that you need dental intervention, but only your Manhattan Beach dentist can tell you for sure. The sooner you contact them with your dental emergency the better – don’t ever try to wait out tooth pain or avoid the dentist because you don’t want a root canal. The problem will not subside on its own, it will only get more complex and require a bigger intervention.

Serious tooth pain is a sign that something isn’t right with your oral health. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, contact your dentist right away:

Root Canal 3D
  • Severe tooth pain
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold foods or beverages
  • Pain when biting or chewing
  • Gum tenderness
  • Gum swelling
  • Tooth discoloration

The Root Canal Procedure

It’s good to know what to expect before you undergo a root canal. The treatment is detailed but effective and it will stop your oral health problem right away. Here is what to anticipate:

  • Local anesthetic and sedation dentistry, if needed, are administered to numb the area and calm the patient.
  • The tooth is prepared as though getting cavity treatment and an opening is made to the root and pulp.
  • The infected canals are cleaned meticulously and sterilized to eliminate the infection.
  • A special filler is used to seal the tooth root and prevent future infection and sensitivity.
  • The tooth is rebuilt with a customized, strong dental crown that covers the entire tooth.

Root canals save your natural teeth and prevent the need for tooth extraction. The crown atop the treated tooth is so durable that there should never be any problems or infections with that tooth ever again.

Before and during the treatment, advanced technology is used to care for every root canal patient and deliver accurate diagnoses and information. CAT scan technology, CT imaging, and digital x-rays deliver three-dimensional views and help identify other problems going on below the gumline. This precise dental care ensures thorough treatment and the best possible results from all your restorative dentistry.

Get Emergency Dental Care in Manhattan Beach

It is possible to avoid root canals by taking good care of your teeth at home and seeing your Manhattan Beach dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup. But if you’re suffering from pain and discomfort now, contact Dr. Don Mungcal and his dental team right away for emergency treatment, root canals or otherwise.

Many Happy Faces

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.


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