Two small words – root canal – have the power to make most people wince. However, the dental procedure commonly referred to as “a root canal” is no more traumatic than getting a filling. It actually relieves the pain caused by a damaged or abscessed tooth. Endodontic therapy is often the only way to save the tooth, when the alternative treatment would be extraction. Dr. Don Mungcal brings advanced technology and techniques to dental root canal therapy at Downtown Dental in Los Angeles.
Understanding root canal basics
Each one of your teeth is covered by a durable enamel shell; the visible portion you see when you smile. Underneath the enamel, a hard structure called dentin gives the tooth shape and strength. A chamber at the center holds vital pulp – blood vessels that keep the tooth nourished, and nerves that allow you to sense bite pressure and temperature. Nerves extend through canals, into the root of the tooth in the jawbone.
Your mouth naturally harbors hundreds of strains of bacteria. Deep decay, breakage, or even a fine crack can allow harmful bacteria to invade the pulp chamber, resulting in infection, inflammation, pressure, and acute or recurring pain.
For many years, conventional endodontic therapy has followed these steps:
- The patient may be prescribed medication for pain, or antibiotics
- The tooth is opened. Damaged or decayed structure is removed
- Nerves and infected pulp are extracted
- The pulp chamber is sterilized and sealed
- A temporary restoration is applied
- When the dentist is confident that no infection remains (usually about 30 days), the temporary restoration is removed and a crown is placed to protect the tooth from further damage
An advanced approach to root canal therapy
Dr. Mungcal builds upon that foundation of sound, conventional dentistry with modern equipment and methods.
Because patient comfort is Downtown Dental’s top priority, the doctor offers the option of gentle sedation. If an abscessed tooth is causing extreme pain, or if you have anxiety about the procedure, you may choose oral conscious sedation or intravenous sedation.
Every tooth has a unique shape, and may have one, two, or three roots, each with a nerve. The success of root canal therapy depends on the dentist fully removing tooth roots, and every trace of infected pulp. In the past, this required a bit of experienced guesswork. Downtown Dental has in-house CAT scan equipment. Three dimensional CT imaging gives Dr. Mungcal an excellent view of the pulp chamber, root canals, and hidden areas of infection. The result is more precise treatment and less time in the chair.
If you’ve had a nagging toothache, unusual temperature sensitivity, or wake with painful swelling, you may need dental root canal therapy. You’ll find gentle care and contemporary techniques at Downtown Dental in Los Angeles. The phone number is 213-863-9464.
