Root Canal Therapy in Aliso Viejo

Aliso Smiles provides root canal therapy in Aliso Viejo, CA. Call us at 949-916-7800 to learn more and schedule an appointment.

When you’re feeling dental pain or discomfort that won’t go away or is extremely severe, then you might need root canal treatment. But today, root canal treatment is quick and efficient.

Our primary goal is to save your natural teeth whenever possible. Endodontics is the treatment of the pulp and surrounding tissues of a tooth that we use to do just that. 

Root canals are most often necessary when decay reaches the nerve of the tooth or the tooth has become infected. When root canal therapy is performed, infected or inflamed pulp is removed from the tooth chamber. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned and disinfected before being filled and sealed to limit the possibility of future infection. After the root canal is performed, the tooth is restored with a dental crown or filling to protect the tooth and restore normal tooth function.

A root canal may be needed when dental decay has occurred and affected the dental pulp that’s inside your tooth. Made of connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, and other types of tissues, the dental pulp can become inflamed, infected, or both. If it's left untreated, the infection could spread and affect other parts of your mouth, your dental health and overall health, too.   

But a root canal treatment effectively prevents that risk, preventing infection or eliminating infection from inside your tooth.

Root canal treatment involves the removal of the dental pulp that has been affected by decay. 

During this procedure, the crown of the tooth is opened, allowing us to access the root canal. The pulp tissue in the infected root canal is removed and the canals cleaned. A series of files is then used to remove any remaining tissue, slightly enlarge the canals, and smooth the walls of these canals. 

Once any infection has completely cleared up, which could take a few days or possibly a bit longer, the root canals are sealed with a material called gutta percha or with root canal sealer, in order to prevent bacteria or debris from entering the root canals and causing further infection. 

Once that pulp tissue is removed and sealed, the cavity is disinfected, any leftover debris is removed, and the tooth is sealed, then the crown of the tooth is sealed with a filling or capped with a crown. This repairs the damage and restores the look of your natural tooth.

While our dental team will plan and consult with you on your aftercare instructions, basically you’ll find that healing is typically quick. However, you may still find you have some amount of discomfort or swelling or experience sensitivity while chewing. But as long as you follow your simple aftercare instructions, you should start feeling recovered in just a few days. Any post-treatment symptoms are usually mild and should only require over-the-counter analgesics to handle discomfort.

If you’re ready to learn more about root canals, or schedule a consultation for root canal treatment, reach out to us today. Call 949-916-7800 to schedule an appointment.

Here are some simple tips to help with healing and avoid discomfort after having a root canal, including:

• Avoid chewing on the site of the root canal
• Choose soft foods for a day or two following the procedure, such as smoothies or scrambled eggs or ice cream 
• Wait until your anesthetic has worn off to eat so you don’t accidentally bite your cheek or tongue
• Avoid hot foods/liquids until the anesthetic has completely worn off 
• Take any pain medication we prescribe or recommend
• Favor the side of your mouth that did not have the root canal treatment for a few days
• Avoid consuming anything that can cause inflammation to the area, like spicy foods or alcohol
• Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any concerns

Increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet sticky foods or beverages, sudden tooth discoloration, and of course, pain that won’t go away are all signs you might need a root canal.

If you form an abscess, the sign of a severe infection, a root canal may also be necessary to treat it. Whenever your gums are swollen or painful, or are experiencing a bad flavor in your mouth, that could also indicate that a root canal is needed.

A root canal is not complicated. In fact, today, having a root canal is far more comfortable than you may imagine. It’s a relatively quick process that overall will cause no more discomfort than filling a cavity in your tooth.