Root canal therapy removes infected or inflamed pulp from inside a tooth, then cleans and seals the canals so you can keep the tooth. Redondo Beach Dental Group provides root canals in Redondo Beach, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
If you have been told you need one, call (310) 542-6988.
What Happens Inside the Tooth
Every tooth has a soft core called the pulp, which holds the nerve and blood supply and runs down narrow canals in each root. Deep decay, a crack, a large old filling or a hard knock can let bacteria reach it. Badly inflamed or infected pulp cannot heal by itself, and the infection can spread to the bone around the root tip.
When decay has not reached the pulp, a filling is usually enough, and our dentists may use laser dentistry to remove the decayed part of the tooth.
Signs a Tooth May Need a Root Canal
Only an exam and an X-ray can confirm it, but these are the symptoms that most often lead to one:
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the drink or food is gone
- Pain when you bite down or press on the tooth
- A small pimple-like bump on the gum near the tooth
- Swelling or tenderness in the gum or face around the tooth
- A tooth that has turned darker than the teeth beside it
A tooth that stops hurting after weeks of pain may have a dead nerve, and the infection can keep growing without symptoms, so it still needs to be checked. Along with digital X-rays, our dentists may use cone beam 3D imaging to see the shape of the roots and the bone around them before planning treatment.
How Root Canal Treatment Works
A root canal is done under local anesthetic, the same numbing used for a filling. The steps are usually these:
- The dentist numbs the tooth and places a thin sheet called a dental dam around it, which keeps the area clean and dry.
- A small opening is made through the top of the tooth to reach the pulp chamber.
- The infected or inflamed pulp is removed, and each canal is cleaned, disinfected and shaped.
- The canals are filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha and sealed.
- The opening is closed with a filling, and the tooth is then protected with a crown, especially if it is a back tooth.
Many root canals are finished in one or two visits. A molar, or a tooth with an active infection, is more likely to take two.
Why the Crown Afterward Matters
A tooth that has had a root canal is hollowed out inside and no longer has its own blood supply, so it becomes more brittle. Back teeth take heavy chewing force, and a molar left with only a filling can crack.
A study in the Journal of Endodontics reviewed more than 1.4 million teeth treated with root canals across the United States and found that 97% were still in place eight years later. Of the teeth that were eventually pulled, 85% had never received a crown.
Because we make crowns in the office with CEREC, many patients can have a same-day crown designed, milled and placed in a single visit, with no temporary crown and no wait for a lab. Ask at your exam whether your tooth is a good fit for one.
Root Canal or Extraction?
Pulling the tooth costs less on the day, but it leaves a gap, and the bone under a missing tooth tends to shrink over time. Replacing the tooth with a dental implant at our office costs $3,000 to $6,000 per implant, including the abutment and crown, and takes several months.
Keeping your own tooth is usually the better choice when it can be rebuilt. Extraction makes more sense when the tooth is cracked below the gumline or too little of it is left to hold a crown. Ask us to compare both, with costs, before you decide.
Do You Need an Endodontist?
An endodontist is a dentist who has completed two or more years of additional training focused on root canal treatment. General dentists also perform many root canals.
Some teeth are better treated by a specialist, such as molars with curved or narrow canals and teeth whose earlier root canal has failed. Ask at your exam whether your tooth is better treated by a specialist.
Who Will Treat You
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations. At your exam he will explain whether the tooth can be saved and what it will need afterward.
Does a Root Canal Hurt?
A root canal is done with the tooth fully numbed, and most people feel pressure rather than sharp pain. A badly infected tooth can be harder to numb, so tell the dentist right away if you feel anything sharp.
If the idea of the chair is what has kept you from dealing with the tooth, ask about sedation dentistry.
Recovery and Aftercare
- Wait until the numbness wears off before you eat, so you do not bite your cheek or tongue
- Expect the tooth to feel tender when you bite for a few days, which is normal as the tissue around the root settles
- Chew on the other side until the permanent crown is in place
Call us if the pain gets worse after a few days instead of better, or if swelling appears.
What a Root Canal Costs
The cost of a root canal depends mostly on which tooth it is: a front tooth usually has one canal, while a molar can have three or four. The total can also include imaging, a build-up to rebuild the inside of the tooth, and the crown. A same-day crown at our office typically costs $1,200 to $2,000 before insurance. Ask for an estimate that includes the crown, so you know the full number before treatment begins.
Many dental plans pay part of a root canal, and how much depends on your coverage level, deductible and annual maximum. We accept PPO plans; ask us how your plan applies to this treatment. For the balance, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, plus an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to go to a dentist or endodontist for a root canal?
A general dentist can treat many root canals. An endodontist, who has two or more years of extra training, may be recommended for molars with curved canals or for retreating an earlier root canal.
How much do root canals usually cost?
Root canal fees vary with the tooth being treated, and the crown that follows is a separate charge. Ask Redondo Beach Dental Group for an estimate that covers both.
Is it cheaper to pull a tooth than get a root canal?
Pulling a tooth is cheaper than a root canal on the day, but replacing the missing tooth later with an implant usually costs more than saving it.
Can I wait 6 months to get a root canal?
Waiting six months for a root canal is not a good idea once a dentist has found that the pulp is infected. The infection does not clear up without treatment, and it can spread into the bone and turn a tooth that could be saved into one that has to be pulled. If cost or timing is the reason for waiting, ask about payment plans.
When is it too late to avoid a root canal?
It is too late to avoid a root canal once the pulp is badly inflamed or has died, because a filling cannot fix damage inside the tooth. It becomes too late to save the tooth at all when it is cracked below the gumline or too little of it is left to hold a crown.
Does a root canal hurt?
A root canal is done with the tooth numbed by local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure rather than pain during treatment. The tooth is often tender to bite on for a few days afterward.
Why do I need a crown after a root canal?
A crown protects a tooth after a root canal because the treated tooth is hollow inside and more brittle. Front teeth with a small opening can sometimes be restored with a filling instead.
Book a Root Canal Visit in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online. Root canal therapy is one part of the general and family dentistry we provide in Redondo Beach.