Mission Valley
Root Canal Therapy

Restore & Save Infected Teeth

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is the best way to restore and save your natural tooth after it has become infected due to an untreated cavity or an oral injury that cracks the enamel. If you think you may have an infected tooth, come see us in Mission Valley as soon as possible. Learn more about root canal therapy from Rio Vista Family Dentistry & Orthodontics by giving us a call at (619) 299-1122 today!

Chew on This

Root canals have a 95% success rate, and they are often the best way to save an infected tooth.

If you do not receive treatment for an infected tooth, it may eventually need to be extracted.

With powerful numbing agents, root canal treatments are made virtually painless.

Root canal therapy typically only takes an hour, and your mouth will heal within a week.

Avoid further complications and get back to smiling again.

1

Root canals have a 95% success rate, and they are often the best way to save an infected tooth.

2

If you do not receive treatment for an infected tooth, it may eventually need to be extracted.

3

With powerful numbing agents, root canal treatments are made virtually painless.

4

 Root canal therapy typically only takes an hour, and your mouth will heal within a week.

5

Avoid further complications and get back to smiling again.

Treatment for Infected Teeth

What is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy is an endodontic treatment, meaning that it is a procedure intended to treat the inside of your tooth. This treatment is used to clean decayed material from the inside of an infected tooth and restore it permanently. Root canal therapy is typically required when a cavity makes its way through the outside layers of enamel and dentin of your tooth. This leaves your inner tooth vulnerable to bacteria which infect the pulp. Teeth can also become infected when an oral injury cracks the tooth, exposing the pulp. If you do not get treatment for an infected tooth, the infection will continue to worsen and could lead to the loss of your tooth.

Separating Fact from Fiction

Do Root Canals hurt?

Unfortunately, you may have heard or assumed that root canals are very painful. In fact, this is not true at all. Root canals are only about as invasive as a filling, and we use numbing and sedation to make sure you don’t feel anything during treatment. Root canals are the best way to get relief from the extremely painful toothaches that often accompany infected teeth. In just a single 1-2 hour appointment, you can get relief from your pain and save your infected tooth.

What to Expect

Root Canal Treatment

The process begins with the cleaning and numbing of the treatment area. A dental dam will be used to surround the infected tooth in order to prevent the spread of bacteria. Next, Dr. Reyes or Dr. Bonifacio will use a dental drill to remove any infected or decayed enamel and tooth material. Next, a small hole will be made in the top of your tooth and the doctor will use special cleaning instruments to remove the decayed and infected pulp from the inside of your tooth.

After the inside of the tooth has been cleaned and disinfected, your tooth will be flushed and sanitized, then filled with an inert, rubber-like material called “gutta-percha.” This material replaces the pulp and supports the structure of the tooth. Finally, your restoration will be completed with a temporary filling or crown. This crown protects and covers your existing tooth structure. You will usually need to come back to our office once your tooth has healed to have a permanent crown placed.

Judgement-Free Consultations

Let's Get Started

Modern Dental Care

Your Local Mission Valley Dentist

hours

M & W: 7am - 6pm
T & Th: 7am - 4pm
F: 7:30am - 2pm

Address

8590 Rio San Diego Drive
Suite 110
San Diego, CA 92108