My gawd. I’ve been told, or think, I need a root canal (the dental term is endodontic).

Dentist reviews x-ray of a mouth with a patient.

What do I do? I’m in a state of panic. I’d rather walk on hot coals.

A root canal is nowhere near as bad as it sounds. In fact, when the dentist has finished with your treatment, you will be thrilled with the results.

What is a root canal? 

A root canal is a dental procedure which removes inflamed or infected pulp, and accumulated bacteria, on the inside of a tooth. The tooth roots which can be 1 to 4 (in the case of molars) are the part of the tooth which resides under the gums and attach to the jaw bone. 

Basically, the tooth is cleaned, disinfected, filled and finally sealed. We will might cap the tooth with a crown. The idea is to remove the bacteria in the root canal, prevent the tooth from further infection, and most importantly, save your natural tooth.

You can read more about root canals on our web pages here and here.

Here’s the good news. 

A root canal is very similar to a normal tooth filling procedure and can be completed in one or two appointments. Since we make crowns in our own lab, you may be in and out the same day. With various choices of pain management options, including IV sleep sedation, the procedure is relatively painless and is an extremely effective solution for a tooth with decay, infection, inflammation or abscess. Each of these conditions can subject you to pain and further problems with your mouth, including gum disease which can lead to other complications in your mouth and body.

Once the root canal procedure is completed, you will be smiling, chewing and biting in no time. This treatment will allow you to chew normally, and provides a natural appearance.

This image shows a tooth with a variety of problems which indicate that a root canal may be necessary. On the left is a tooth which requires treatment. The image on the right shows the components of a healthy tooth.

Your tooth is made up of several parts … white enamel and a hard layer which is called dentin. Inside is soft pulp tissue which contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. The pulp helps the root of your tooth grow during its development. Once a tooth is fully developed, the pulp is no longer needed as the surrounding tissues continue to nourish it.

Here are answers to some of the questions you may have.

Is the procedure painful?

Generally, it isn’t any more painful than a normal filling or simple wisdom tooth removal. As indicated above, we offer several options to manage your anxiety and pain. You may have slight discomfort for a few days which can easily be managed with OTC pain relievers.

How do I know if I need a root canal?

You may have a cracked tooth from injury or genetics, a large and deep cavity, or issues with previous dental treatment on the tooth. You will probably notice your teeth are particularly sensitive to chewing, or hot or cold food or liquids.

1. Your dentist will tell you so.

2. You have pain when chewing or biting.

3. You notice pimples on your gums.

4. You have a chipped or cracked tooth.

5. Ongoing sensitivity to hot or cold.

6. Swollen or tender gums.

7. Deep decay.

8. Darkening of the gums.

With our sophisticated diagnostic equipment, we can easily diagnose the extent of a problem with your tooth, and plan your treatment accordingly … including making your shiny new crown.

Is a root canal safe?

It is a very common restorative procedure. Endodontists and dentists perform millions of root canals every year.

How is a root canal performed?

1. We use visual and digital x-ray technology to examine and diagnose the tooth.

2. We administer your choice of anesthesia or sedation. Based on our evaluation, we will suggest the best numbing technique for your particular situation.

3. We create a small hole in the tooth which provides our dentist access to the infected or damaged pulp.

4. We carefully clean and disinfect the interior of the tooth.

5. We fill the cleaned space with a material to prevent further infection and promote healing.

6. In most cases, we cap the tooth with a crown which we make in our in-house lab.

Watch this video for an animation of how we perform a root canal.

How long does a root canal take?

It can take from 90 minutes to 2-3 hours, depending on whether we are making and installing a crown.

How long is the recovery from a root canal procedure?

Like with any tooth filling, when we numb your mouth with lidocaine, the effects normally wear off in 2 to 4 hours. Most people are able to return to normal activities in short order. We suggest you don’t eat until the numbness wears off to avoid biting your tooth, gums or cheeks. If you  have chosen IV sleep sedation, you will be unable to drive home and we encourage you to take it easy for 24 hours or so.

You can download post-op instructions for root canal treatments in English or Spanish by clicking your language.

What does a root canal cost?

It really depends on the particular tooth … molars are more difficult to treat, thus can be slightly more expensive. Our staff can help you with estimating your cost and determine how much may be covered by your insurance.

If we are able to save your tooth with a root canal, the cost is generally less than if we have to extract the tooth and replace it with an implant or bridge. Keeping your natural tooth with a root canal procedure also helps prevent adjacent teeth from shifting.

I think I may need a root canal, what’s the next step?

You should call and make an appointment for a no-cost consultation.

What alternatives do I have to a root canal?

When you meet with us, if a root canal is not your thing, we will be happy to discuss with you options. After all, we are dental implant experts, and we will suggest alternatives so you can make an informed decision based on your personal preferences and budget.

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Whatever you think your dental needs are, you should give us a call for a free consultation. Our practice in Oxnard is Carson & Acasio Dentistry (805) 987-1711. In Camarillo, we do business as Spanish Hills Dentistry (805) 983-0717.

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RICH SPRAGUE

Rich is our Marketing Services Manager. He’s responsible for our business rebrand, including the design of our new logo, the production of our marketing materials, and the development of our new website. He is extremely passionate towards the complete marketing and sales process. In addition to his Master’s Degree in Web Design & New Media, he has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and has been writing articles since high school. Rich's email is rich@richsprague.com.