Endodontics is a dental specialty involving the inside of the tooth, specifically its “pulp,” the soft tissue inside the teeth containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. The pulp can become infected, requiring a procedure called a root canal to remove and clean it. The pulp of a tooth is important to its growth and development, but a mature tooth can survive without it, and if the infected pulp were to remain inside the tooth, it could cause more extensive damage and eventually require the entire tooth to be extracted.

Root canals have a reputation of being uncomfortable or traumatic, but that is generally a myth and certainly not the case at Dr. Abadan’s practice.

Signs of an Infected Tooth

If you experience any of the following symptoms, your dental pulp may be diseased and you may need a root canal:

Please note that sometimes infected dental pulp does not produce any symptoms and can only be detected by a dentist during an examination or cleaning. Conversely, experiencing one of the aforementioned symptoms does not automatically mean you need a root canal. Please contact Dr. Abadan’s office at 858-350-7400 if you are experiencing oral discomfort.

What Happens During a Root Canal?

Dr. Abadan makes the root canal experience as comfortable and tolerable as possible. After administering a local anesthetic to block any pain, she isolates the tooth from the surrounding teeth. Then she makes an opening in the tooth’s crown (the top portion emerging from the gums) and cleans the pulp from the central area of the tooth called the pulp chamber and the root canals. Dr. Abadan will also reshape the pulp chamber and root canals to prepare them for a filling.

After the pulp chamber and root canals have been cleaned and shaped, Dr. Abadan will fill the root canals with a rubber-like material to seal them. A temporary filling may also be placed to close the opening of the crown. Eventually, Dr. Abadan will need to place a permanent restoration (e.g., a crown) to protect the tooth and reinstate its full function. Complete treatment may take several visits to our dental office.

Contact Dr. Abadan Today

Are you experiencing a worrisome dental symptom and would like a dental professional’s opinion? Contact Dr. Abadan at 858-350-7400 as soon as possible to set up a consultation and comprehensive examination. After diagnosing you, she will lay out your available treatment options and recommend the best course of action.