Root Canal

Severely infected, damaged or decayed teeth can have a detrimental effect on your entire smile and may increase your risk of further dental health problems. In the past, there were few options to manage teeth that were seriously damaged or decayed, and dentists might have recommended extraction to reduce the risks to the other teeth. Today, modern dentistry offers us another alternative: root canal therapy. Our Root Canal Treatment Agoura Hills CA expert may recommend a root canal treatment if you have a tooth that is abscessed, infected or otherwise seriously damaged.

The process for a root canal treatment will generally require two appointments with our expert in Root Canal Treatment Agoura Hills CA. At your first appointment, the affected area will be numbed using a local anesthetic. The tooth will be cleaned, and the blood supply and nerve will be removed. The inner chambers of the tooth will then be shaped, and a special medication will be placed in the tooth to help it heal. Our Agoura Hills root canal expert may prescribe an antibiotic to help eliminate any remaining infection. Once the nerve is removed, the tooth will no longer cause pain, but there may still be some tenderness as the inflammation in the surrounding tissues subsides. Over-the-counter or prescription pain medications may be recommended to reduce discomfort or eliminate pain.

Root Canal Treatment Agoura Hills CA

At your second appointment, our expert in Root Canal Treatment Agoura Hills CA will evaluate the tooth to ensure that it has healed as expected. The canals will be filled with gutta percha, a special material that seals them and protects the tooth from bacteria. After the tooth is shaped, it will be ready for its final restoration. Although some teeth can be restored using a dental filling, most will be best protected by a porcelain crown, which restores the size, shape and function of the natural tooth.

A root canal treatment can be an excellent choice for certain types of dental problems and can help reduce the need for dental extractions. Contact our dentist in Agoura Hills today to learn more about your treatment options or to schedule your consultation.