Root Canal Treatment in Murrieta: Saving Your Natural Tooth

Why would a tooth need a root canal?

A tooth needs a root canal when the pulp, the soft tissue inside it, becomes inflamed or infected. The pulp holds the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels.

According to the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), the pulp can be damaged by deep decay, repeated dental work on the same tooth, a faulty crown, or a crack or chip. An injury can harm the pulp even when the tooth looks fine.

Left untreated, the infection can cause pain or an abscess and can spread to the bone around the tooth. The good news: a fully grown tooth can keep working without its pulp, because the tissues around it still nourish it.

What are the signs you may need a root canal?

Common signs include pain when you chew or bite, sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers, and swollen or tender gums. Our pages on toothache and tooth abscess cover other causes of tooth pain.

Signs to watch for include:

• Severe pain when chewing or biting
• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lasts after the food or drink is gone
• A pimple or boil on the gum near the tooth
• Swollen or tender gums, or a tooth that has darkened
• A chipped or cracked tooth
• Pain that spreads to your jaw or face

What happens during a root canal?

Most root canal treatments take one or two visits. The tooth is numbed, cleaned out from the inside, then filled and sealed, as shown in the steps below.

If there isn’t enough tooth left to hold the final restoration, a small post may be placed inside the tooth for support.

Specialist care for root canal treatment will be available right here at our Murrieta office, so you will not need to travel to another office. We’re also adding 3D imaging and digital X-rays, and the FDA lists root canal diagnosis as one use of dental cone-beam CT. See 3D imaging and digital impressions.

Does a root canal hurt?

Because the tooth is numbed, a root canal usually feels much like getting a filling. The AAE explains that the pain people link with root canals usually comes from the infection itself, and treatment is meant to relieve it.

Afterward, the tooth may be tender for a few days, and your jaw may feel sore from holding your mouth open. Over-the-counter medicine usually helps. Wait to eat until the numbness wears off, and avoid biting hard on the tooth until it’s fully restored.

Nervous about dental visits? Nitrous oxide has been offered here for anxious patients, along with comfort touches like blankets. Ask our team about comfort options.

Do I need a crown after a root canal?

Often, yes. After a root canal, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling, and the AAE notes that treated teeth often need a crown to protect them from breaking.

Plan your crown visit as soon as the root canal is finished. Until then, avoid heavy biting on that tooth. A properly treated and restored tooth can last as long as your other natural teeth.

Learn what to expect on our dental crowns page.

Root canal myths vs. facts

Most fears about root canals come from old stories, not current science. Here’s what the AAE says about common myths:

• Myth: Root canals are extremely painful. Fact: Modern treatment is designed to relieve pain, and most patients find it similar to a routine filling.
• Myth: Root canals cause cancer or other illness. Fact: There is no scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to cancer, heart disease or arthritis.
• Myth: Recovery is long and miserable. Fact: Mild soreness for a few days is typical, and significant or prolonged pain is uncommon.
• Myth: Treated teeth don’t last. Fact: With proper care, a tooth that has had a root canal can last a lifetime.
• Myth: Ozone or other new treatments can replace a root canal. Fact: Ozone hasn’t been shown to replace the cleaning, shaping and sealing a root canal provides.

Is it better to pull a tooth or get a root canal?

When a tooth can be saved, the AAE says root canal treatment is the preferred option, because nothing looks, feels or works quite like your natural tooth.

Pulling a tooth can seem simpler, but the gap usually needs to be filled. Spaces left by missing teeth can let other teeth shift, which can affect chewing and your smile. Replacing a tooth with a dental implant or bridge takes more visits and sometimes bone grafting.

Sometimes a tooth can’t be saved, such as when a crack runs below the gum line. Then removal is the right step, and your dentist will talk with you about replacement options.

How much does a root canal cost?

The cost depends on which tooth needs treatment, how complex its canals are and what restoration it needs afterward. Our root canal cost guide covers each of these factors:

• Tooth type: front teeth usually take less time than molars, which have more canals.
• Complexity: curved or narrow canals, severe infection or redoing an earlier root canal can add time.
• Restoration: the crown or filling the tooth needs afterward.
• Coverage: many dental plans pay part of root canal treatment, and some require pre-authorization.

Questions & answers

Common questions