Root Canal Treatment in Pleasant Hill, CA

Tittle Endodontics provides root canal services in Pleasant Hill, CA. Call 925-676-3388 to learn more and schedule your appointment. 

Endodontics is the treatment of the pulp and surrounding tissues of a tooth. When root canal therapy is performed, the pulp of the tooth is removed and the inside of the root is thoroughly cleaned. Once adequately disinfected, the inside of the root is sealed with a suitable filling material.

Root canal therapy is most often necessary when decay has reached the pulp of the tooth or the tooth has become infected. People have anywhere from 1 to 4 canals in a tooth. Extra canals may branch out and are called “accessory canals.” The number of canals and anatomy of a tooth can vary.

Root canal treatment has become a very routine procedure that will ease your pain and help your inflamed tooth heal. With the experienced team you will find at Tittle Endodontics, you can rest easy knowing that your root canal will be handled with the utmost precision and care.

There are certain signs that you may need endodontic treatment. These include: 

• Painful toothache
• Swelling or soreness of the gums that surround the tooth. 
• A pimple on the gums
• Tooth discoloration
• Prolonged sensitivity to cold/hot foods, beverages, or temperatures

The best way to know if you need root canal treatment is to have a thorough examination done by a dental professional. 

Endodontic therapy is generally not painful. Your endodontist will numb the area with a local anesthesia before the treatment begins so that you should feel comfortable. Nerves that are very inflamed can be difficult to fully anesthetize, so additional local anesthetic may be necessary.

A root canal is needed when the pulp mounts a response against a chronic or acute insult such as decay or fractures in the tooth. The nerve then becomes inflamed and subsequently infected. Opting against a root canal treatment may leave you with no other option than to get the tooth extracted. Be advised that you never want to leave a tooth untreated, one way or another. This bacterial infection that has spread won’t stop on its own and can make its way into your jaw and into your bloodstream.

The actual procedure to treat a root canal lasts about an hour. However, more complex cases may take a little bit longer. There are many different canals that your endodontist needs to access to heal the infection. Some of these areas are fractions of a millimeter in dimension and difficult to access. If the procedure takes longer, that is just because your dental team is trying to make sure they have eradicated all the bacteria and noxious debris in the root canal system.

After endodontic treatment, you shouldn’t require more than a few days to fully recover, with most pain and soreness dissipating after the first 24 to 48 hours. Your endodontist will give you a simple list of instructions to follow as well as recommend over-the-counter pain medication should you need it.

If you have been told you need a root canal or you are experiencing some of the signs, it is a good idea to have a consultation with your endodontist. Call Tittle Endodontics at 925-676-3388. Or schedule an appointment online.