SMILE HAUS provides root canals in West Hills, CA. Call 818-348-6068 to learn more and schedule your appointment.

Endodontic treatment, more commonly known as a root canal, is a procedure that is needed when infection in a tooth reaches the pulp, usually as a result of damage or decay. A tooth’s pulp is rich with nerve endings and blood vessels, making it particularly sensitive, which is why infection of this tissue is painful. When left untreated, an infection of the pulp can spread to surrounding tissues and even throughout the rest of the body via the bloodstream.

With a root canal, our goal is to save your natural tooth. This matters because if a tooth needs to be extracted, the bone that supported it is reabsorbed by the body over time. This results in a weakened bite, changes to facial structures, and movement of adjacent teeth. Saving the tooth rather than extracting it prevents these issues from occurring and eliminates the need for a costly dental implant.

During your appointment, we will assess whether a root canal is needed by conducting an oral exam and asking you about your symptoms. Then, we take an x-ray to look for signs of infection inside your tooth and make sure it hasn’t spread to the surrounding bone.


What Happens During a Root Canal


First, let us reassure you: root canals are not as painful as people would have you believe. Techniques for endodontic treatment have advanced to make the procedure less uncomfortable and local anesthetic is injected into the area to make sure you don’t feel the work we do. Getting a root canal is no more painful than other routine dental procedures. The only thing painful about a root canal is needing one and delaying treatment!

During your root canal procedure, we will drill your tooth in order to open it, then remove all infected tissue from the pulp. We clean the chamber and apply an antimicrobial solution to ensure that all bacteria is killed and reinfection does not occur. Next, we fill the tooth with a rubber-like material to seal the chamber and use an inlay, filling, or crown to close the tooth. If you need an inlay or crown, you will return to our office at a later time to have the permanent restoration placed. With a high-quality restoration made from tooth-colored material like porcelain or resin, your tooth will look completely natural and no one will know that you had a root canal.

In the days after your root canal, you can expect some sensitivity, but most patients return to work or school the same or next day. Aftercare involves taking antibiotics as prescribed to fight infection and using over-the-counter pain relievers and cold compresses to alleviate any discomfort.

We provide root canals for patients in West Hills as well as neighboring communities including Calabasas, Bell Canyon, Encino, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Tarzana, Chatsworth, Canoga Park, Woodland Hills, and Hidden Hills

Call us at 818-348-6068 to schedule an appointment.