Endodontic Treatment

What Is Endodontic Treatment? (The Root Canal That Saves Your Crown)

Endodontic treatment is dentistry's method for saving a tooth that is dying or infected from the inside out. "Endo" means inside and "dontic" means tooth—so we are literally treating the inside of your tooth. Most people know this procedure as a root canal.

Here's why this is so critical for a patient needing a crown: you can't put a new roof (a crown) on a house with failing, infected plumbing (a dying nerve). Endodontic treatment fixes the internal problem, creating a healthy foundation so the tooth can be successfully restored with a crown for decades to come.

The Tooth 911: When a Root Canal is Necessary

The living tissue inside your tooth, called the pulp, can become infected or die due to:

• Deep decay reaching the nerve.
• A crack in the tooth that lets bacteria in.

• Trauma or an injury to the tooth (even from years ago).

The signs your tooth might need endodontic treatment range from the obvious to the silent.

• Obvious Signs: A severe, throbbing toothache, swelling, an abscess (or "pimple") on your gums, or extreme sensitivity to hot or cold.

• Sneaky Signs: A tooth that is darkening in color, pain only when you bite down, or sometimes, no symptoms at all—the problem is only discovered on a routine X-ray.

Root Canal + Crown: The Power Couple of Dentistry

A root canal and a crown almost always go together. After a root canal, the tooth is hollowed out and no longer has a blood supply, which makes it brittle like a dead tree branch. Without the 360-degree protection of a crown, the tooth is at an extremely high risk of fracturing.

The root canal saves the tooth from infection; the crown saves the tooth from fracture. One without the other is an incomplete treatment.

Modern Endodontics: Not Your Parents' Root Canal

Root canals have an undeservedly bad reputation. Let's be clear: root canals don't cause pain; they relieve it. The pain comes from the infection, and the procedure removes the source of that pain.

With modern anesthetics and advanced rotary instruments, the experience of a root canal today is typically no different than getting a routine filling. The procedure is often completed in a single 60-90 minute visit. For more complex cases, especially on molars with curved roots, we may refer you to an Endodontist—a root canal specialist—who uses microscopes and advanced 3D imaging to ensure the highest possible success rate.

The Investment: Saving Your Natural Tooth

While the combined cost of a root canal and a crown is a significant investment, it is almost always more conservative and cost-effective than the alternative: extracting the tooth. Losing a tooth requires a more expensive and complex replacement like a dental bridge or implant to prevent shifting teeth and bone loss. Saving your natural tooth is priceless.

Here's what we want you to remember:

Modern endodontic treatment (a root canal) is a comfortable, predictable, and highly successful procedure designed to save a natural tooth from infection. To ensure its long-term survival, it must be protected with a dental crown afterward.

Every patient's situation is unique.

Whether you need to see a specialist, how many appointments it will take, and the final prognosis all depend on the specific tooth and the complexity of its root system. We will always provide a clear diagnosis and treatment plan.

Experiencing tooth pain or sensitivity?

Been told you might need a root canal? Don't let old myths or fear guide your decision. We're here to give you honest, personalized answers. Schedule a consultation at our Woodland Hills practice – let's talk about what's really best for your smile.