Tustin Root Canal Therapy - Endodontics

Root Canal Dentist in Tustin

As a complete dental care provider, Dr. Arthur Parkins offers root canal treatment to residents of Tustin and the surrounding communities. As a qualified endodontic provider in Tustin, Dr. Parkins performs root canal treatment for his patient’s to restore their natural teeth.

What is Root Canal Therapy, also known as Endodontic Therapy?

Root canal therapy is a dental procedure that is performed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection.  In order to save the patient’s natural tooth, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria, and any decay are removed. Then the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function.

Having Root Canal Treatment at our Tustin Dental Office vs Pulling the Tooth

While many of our Tustin dental patients believe that removing a tooth that has an infection or decaying problems is the best and easiest solution, many do not realize that extracting (pulling) a tooth will ultimately be more costly and can cause significant complications for the adjacent teeth. On the flip side, root canal treatment has proven highly successful and usually lasts a lifetime, although, on occasion, a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections.

Signs and symptoms for possibly needing root canal therapy:

• An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold.
• Severe toothache pain.
• Swelling and/or tenderness.

Sometimes no symptoms are present. That is why regular check-ups are so important.

If you have any of the above signs and symptoms, our Tustin dental office will recommend root canal therapy as the best plan of action if any of the below reasons are the cause for the symptoms:

• Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth).
• Infection or abscess has developed inside the tooth or at the root tip.
• Injury or trauma to the tooth.

What Does Root Canal Therapy at Our Tustin Dental Office Involve?

At your appointment, your tooth will be numbed. While the tooth is numb, a rubber dam (a sheet of rubber) will be placed around the tooth to keep it dry and free of saliva.  An access opening is made on top of the tooth and a series of root canal files are placed into the opening, one at a time, removing the pulp, nerve tissue, and bacteria.  If tooth decay is present, it will also be removed with special dental instruments.

Once the tooth is thoroughly cleaned, it will be sealed with either a permanent filling or, if additional appointments are needed, a temporary filling will be placed.

If an additional appointment is needed, usually a week later, the roots and the inside cavity of the tooth will be filled and sealed with special dental materials.  A filling will be placed to cover the opening on top of the tooth.  In addition, all teeth that have root canal treatment should have a crown (cap) placed.  This will protect the tooth and prevent it from breaking, and restore it to its full function. 

After Your Root Canal Treatment at Our Tustin Dental Office

After your root canal treatment at our Tustin dental office, your tooth may still be sensitive, but this will subside as the inflammation diminishes and the tooth has healed.

You will be given detailed care instructions after each appointment.  Good oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your root canal treatment.

Schedule Your Tustin Root Canal Treatment

Call Us Today or simply Request an Appointment Online to learn more about our Tustin root canal treatment options.