Restorative
Root Canal Therapy
Clearing infection from inside a tooth so we can keep the tooth instead of pulling it.
Inside every tooth is a chamber holding nerve and blood vessels. When decay, a crack or an old deep filling lets bacteria reach it, that tissue becomes infected and the pressure has nowhere to go. That is the pain people describe as throbbing, keeping them awake, or worse when they lie down.
A root canal removes the infected tissue, disinfects the canals inside the roots, and seals them. The tooth stays in your jaw and keeps doing its job. It is the alternative to losing the tooth, not an addition to losing it.
The reputation is out of date. The pain people associate with root canals is the pain of the infection that brings them in. The treatment itself is done with the tooth fully numb, and most people say afterwards it felt like having a long filling done.
Is this right for me?
- You have deep, lingering pain, or pain that wakes you at night or throbs when you lie down.
- A tooth hurts to hot food and the ache continues after the heat is gone.
- There is a bump or pimple on the gum near a tooth, or the tooth has darkened.
What to expect
Testing, not guessing
Cold tests, a tap test and an X-ray identify which tooth and whether the nerve is actually dying. Pain refers between teeth surprisingly often.
Numbing thoroughly
A hot tooth can be harder to numb. We take the time to get it properly numb and we test before starting, every time.
Cleaning the canals
A small opening in the top of the tooth gives access. The canals are cleaned to their full length, measured electronically and confirmed on an X-ray.
Sealing
The canals are filled to seal them, and the opening is closed. Depending on the tooth this happens the same day or at a second visit.
Protecting it afterwards
A back tooth that has had a root canal needs a crown. Without one it will crack, often within a year, and then it cannot be saved at all.
Your comfort
If you have ever had an injection that did not seem to work, tell us before we start. There are several different ways to numb a lower molar and we will use whichever one works for you. You can stop us at any point.
Insurance and payment, sorted before you sit down
We take all PPO plans, Medi-Cal Dental and most Medicare Advantage dental plans, and we check your benefits before treatment so the estimate is in writing. If you need to spread the cost, we work with CareCredit, Cherry and Sunbit.
Apply for financing — Cherry Avenue Office
- CareCredit®Apply online in a few minutes. Decision is usually immediate.
- CherryApply on your phone. The pre-qualification check does not affect your credit score.
- SunbitApplied for at the front desk when you come in — takes a few minutes.
Questions patients ask
Does a root canal hurt?
The treatment is done with the tooth fully numb. Most people describe it as a long filling. Afterwards the tooth is often tender to bite on for a few days as the ligament around it settles, which over-the-counter pain relief handles.
Why not just pull the tooth?
Because nothing works quite as well as your own tooth, and replacing it costs more than saving it. That said, extraction is a legitimate choice, and if the tooth is badly broken below the gum we may recommend it ourselves. You will get both options with the numbers for each.
How many visits does it take?
Often one, sometimes two, depending on how many canals the tooth has and whether there is active infection to settle first. The crown afterwards is separate.
Do I really need a crown afterwards?
On a back tooth, yes. It has lost internal structure and takes heavy chewing force. Skipping the crown is the most common reason a successfully treated tooth is lost anyway.
My tooth stopped hurting. Can I skip the treatment?
Pain stopping often means the nerve has died, not that the problem is gone. The infection continues quietly and usually returns as swelling. Please still come in.
I have facial swelling and a fever. What do I do?
Call the office straight away. If we are closed and you have swelling that is spreading, a fever, or any difficulty breathing or swallowing, go to urgent care or the emergency room — that is beyond what a dental visit can handle safely.
What patients say
Dr. Zamiri is a very competent and patient dentist. I needed extensive treatment, and the attention I was given put me at ease and the whole time I felt well taken care of! I trust the excellence of Dr Z and her staff and hope to continue in a relationship for a long time!
Related services
Thinking about Root Canal Therapy?
Send a request and we'll call you back to find a time. You'll get a written estimate before anything is booked in the schedule.