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Endodontics

Root Canal Therapy in Diamond Bar, CA

Boy smiling in a blue shirtAt Furumoto Dentistry, our mission is to help patients of all ages achieve a healthy, beautiful smile they can feel proud to call their own. As a comprehensive dental practice serving Diamond Bar, Brea, Chino Hills, and the surrounding areas, we're proud to provide a wide variety of treatments to help our patients maintain healthy, strong teeth, ranging from dental exams & teeth cleanings to implant dentistry. At our practice, we place a strong focus on preventive care – but if dental decay does progress too far, root canal therapy to save even a severely decayed tooth is often a must.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a procedure designed to save a tooth that has decayed beyond the point where a filling or crown is an option. Specifically, a root canal is necessary once a cavity penetrates through the enamel and dentin of the tooth, reaching the soft, fleshy dental pulp at the center of the tooth. Once the dental pulp is infected, the tooth is at severe risk of being lost – and left untreated, the infection can even reach the gums and threaten surrounding teeth.

Thankfully, a root canal procedure can prevent this from happening, saving the tooth and alleviating the infection. By cleaning out infected dental pulp and tooth material, filling the root canal with a biocompatible filler material, and sealing the tooth with a lifelike dental crown, we can restore the damaged tooth to its normal appearance and function, bringing your smile back to normal.

Why Would I Need a Root Canal?

The most common reason for a root canal is an infection, but there are a number of other problems that might require root canal therapy. Some of the reasons for a root canal include:

  • Inflamed or infected dental pulp
  • Cavities & tooth decay
  • A chip or crack in the tooth
  • Any trauma or blow to a tooth
  • Severe tooth sensitivity to heat or cold
  • Tenderness or swelling around an infected tooth
  • Destabilization due to repeated dental procedures on the same tooth

Any of these problems may require a root canal, and without treatment, they can all cause serious dental health problems.

The Root Canal Procedure

A root canal is a relatively minor, routine surgical procedure that we can perform in our office in just two appointments. Many people have the misconception that root canals are painful, but the truth is, it's a virtually painless procedure – and in the long run, it prevents serious pain caused by a tooth infection. While every patient is different, most root canal procedures go something like this:

  • First, we'll administer anesthesia to ensure you're completely comfortable during the procedure.
  • Next, your Brea dentist will place a dental dam to isolate the tooth.
  • Your dentist will then open up the tooth to remove any infected, decayed, or dead tooth material or pulp.
  • Your dentist will then clean and sterilize the tooth.
  • Using specialized tools, your dentist will reshape the root canal and place a strong, biocompatible filler material.
  • We'll then place a temporary crown over the tooth to protect it.
  • After a brief recovery period, we'll bring you back in for a second appointment to place your final, permanent dental crown.
  • Once your permanent crown is in place, your new tooth is here to stay!

Contact Your Brea & Chino Hills Dentist

While we strive to prevent problems before they happen at our office, a root canal is a convenient, highly-effective procedure that can help you preserve a natural tooth that would otherwise be lost. If you have more questions about the root canal procedure or think you might benefit from one, we'd love to talk with you – just reach out to us at our contact page. We can't wait to hear from you, and we're excited to help you achieve and maintain a beautiful, healthy smile for a lifetime!