Root Canals in San Diego

If you’re suffering from a painful toothache in San Diego, you may have an infected tooth, and require root canal therapy to restore your smile and prevent further complications. At Harbor Family Dental, Dr. Ryan Wallrich is here to help you get the treatment you need to restore your smile and your bite. Learn more below, or contact us to schedule a consultation. 

What Is A Root Canal?

Root canal therapy, commonly just called a “root canal” for short, is a treatment that’s intended to restore and protect teeth that have become infected due to untreated tooth decay or dental trauma. 

If you have a deep cavity or your tooth is seriously cracked or damaged by dental trauma, the outer layers of your tooth will be compromised. These layers of enamel and dentin typically protect the vulnerable “pulp” inside your tooth, which contains the blood vessels and nerves that keep your tooth alive.

If this pulp is exposed to the bacteria in your mouth, it will become infected and the tooth will start to die. Eventually, an untreated tooth infection will result in the loss of your tooth.A root canal is used to prevent this from happening, and to restore your tooth. In this process, Dr. Wallrich will clean and numb your mouth, then trim away damaged enamel and create a small opening in the surface of your tooth.

Using specialized dental tools, Dr. Wallrich will remove decayed pulp from inside your tooth, and clean the interior to destroy bacteria. When the tooth is clean, it will be filled with a rubbery material that replaces the missing pulp. Then, it will be covered with a crown to prevent further damage. 

What is the Root Canal Process?

To determine if a root canal is necessary, Dr. Ryan Wallrich will perform an oral exam and take x-rays of the affected tooth. Once it’s been determined that a root canal is necessary, the first appointment begins by administering local anesthesia so you will not feel any pain.

A rubber dental dam will be fitted around the tooth to keep it dry and free of bacteria. Dr. Wallrich will drill an access hole into the tooth to access the tooth’s pulp. The damaged pulp will then be scraped out of the tooth and the tooth’s canals will be thoroughly cleaned. Some shaping on the inside of the tooth may be necessary to prepare the tooth for the filling.

A rubber compound filling known as gutta-percha will be used to fill the inside of the tooth. The access hole is filled with a temporary or permanent filling. If you receive a temporary filling, a permanent filling is placed at your next appointment.

You will return to the dentist for a permanent filling and a dental crown.  The crown will protect the tooth from further damage and prevent reinfection. Teeth are vulnerable after extensive decay and root canals, so a crown is necessary to protect the tooth from cracking or breaking due to wear and tear or possible reinfection.

Are Root Canals Covered by Insurance?

Root canals can vary in cost depending on what type of tooth is affected and where the tooth is located. Other factors such as going to an endodontist vs a general dentist, how complex the root canal procedure is, and where you live can lead to variable costs.

A root canal will be more expensive if the affected tooth is a molar if you see an endodontist rather than a general dentist, and if the procedure is more complex. If the procedure is too difficult for a general dentist to perform, they may need to refer you to a specialist.

Luckily, many dental insurance policies cover root canal procedures. However, just how much your insurance will cover depends on what insurance and type of coverage you have. You will need to take into account what your deductible is and any potential waiting periods. 

The best way to find out this information is to contact your insurance directly and closely examine your policy. Root canal procedures can range from $700-1400 per tooth. At Harbor Family Dental, we accept many of the most common insurance plans and offer an in-office discount for patients who lack dental coverage. 

What Happens if I Don’t Get a Root Canal?

You might be asking yourself how necessary it is to get a root canal. This depends on whether or not you have been advised to seek root canal treatment by a dentist, how long the affected tooth has been damaged, and whether or not you have the means to go through with a root canal procedure.

The important thing to realize is that if a dentist has recommended root canal treatment, that means the pulp of the tooth has become so significantly damaged that the only other option is to extract the tooth. Root canal treatments are used as a last resort to salvage a tooth.

Failing to get a root canal done when you have a tooth that is severely decayed or infected means the tooth will only get worse, even if the pain stops. Some patients believe that if the pain goes away that means the tooth has healed but the truth is that the nerves in the tooth have likely died and the infection is still present.

The only way to remove the infection from the tooth is to have the damaged pulp physically removed. If you do not have the time or money to go through with a root canal procedure, you may want to consider extraction. 

However, when a tooth is extracted, you will need to have the tooth replaced with a dental prosthesis to prevent shifting teeth, bone loss, and changes in the facial structure. We highly recommend that you take the advice of your dentist seriously and do not delay root canal treatment. If you would like to discuss other options, contact us at (619) 786-2939 or schedule an appointment today.

Does A Root Canal Hurt?

Root canal therapy does not hurt. The process is only about as invasive as having a cavity filled, and Dr. Wallrich uses the latest tools and techniques to ensure your safety and comfort. We even offer sedation dentistry for our patients, which can help you feel more relaxed during your appointment.

Your newly-treated tooth may feel slightly sore for a few days after your treatment, but you should not feel any significant pain. If your tooth hurts after 1-2 weeks, however, you should contact Dr. Wallrich for a follow-up appointment. 

How Do I Know I Need A Root Canal? 

There are a few signs that you may need a root canal. A toothache is the most common sign of an infected tooth. If one of your teeth is causing you a lot of pain and this pain persists or grows worse after 1-2 days, your tooth may be infected.