Root Canal Treatment in Santa Monica
That throbbing, relentless tooth pain you're experiencing isn't something to ignore, it's typically your body's way of alerting you to a serious infection within your tooth's core. Our Santa Monica dental office specializes in addressing these deep infections while keeping your original tooth intact and bringing back your oral health and comfort. We blend cutting-edge dental equipment with expert care in a soothing, patient-friendly setting to ensure your root canal experience is both effective and as pleasant as possible.
What Is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal therapy is a targeted dental treatment that addresses infected or inflamed pulp, the living tissue housed within your tooth's center. This infection may develop from trauma, severe tooth decay, or multiple dental procedures over time. Without intervention, the infection can worsen or result in complete tooth loss. The treatment involves extracting the compromised pulp, thoroughly sanitizing the tooth's interior chambers, and sealing these spaces to block future bacterial invasion. Following the procedure, we typically fit a personalized dental crown to rebuild the tooth's durability and natural appearance.
Signs That You May Need a Root Canal
Root canal therapy may be necessary if you're dealing with:
- Constant or severe dental discomfort
- Stabbing pain during biting or chewing activities
- Prolonged sensitivity when consuming hot or cold items
- Puffiness near the affected tooth or facial area
- Discoloration of the tooth, appearing darker or grayish
Benefits of Root Canal Treatment
Root canal procedures offer an excellent solution for eliminating infection while keeping your original teeth. Primary advantages include:
Immediate Comfort
Natural Tooth Retention
Infection Control
Complete Restoration
What to Expect During Your Root Canal Procedure
Our goal is to provide a seamless, comfortable treatment experience. Here's how we typically proceed:
1. Thorough Assessment and Diagnostic Imaging
We begin with a detailed evaluation of your tooth and capture digital radiographs to evaluate the extent of infection and develop our treatment approach.
2. Comfortable Numbing Process
We apply local anesthetic to eliminate any sensation and position a protective barrier around the tooth to maintain a sterile work area.
3. Infected Tissue Extraction
We create a precise access point in the tooth to gently extract all compromised or necrotic tissue from within.
4. Canal Sanitization and Preparation
Each canal receives meticulous cleaning and contouring to eliminate bacterial presence and ready the space for filling material.
5. Sealing and Protection
We pack the cleaned canals with specialized filling material to create a tight seal against future contamination.
6. Final Restoration
Usually during a subsequent appointment, we attach a custom-crafted crown to shield and rebuild the tooth's form and function.
Frequently Asked Questions
