Root Canal Treatment

B. Jeffrey Kay, DDS

General Dentist and Cosmetic Dentist located in San Mateo, CA

An infected or severely damaged tooth can affect your ability to chew or speak. B. Jeffrey Kay, DDS Dentistry offers the quickest way to treat a damaged or decayed tooth by eliminating the problem at the source. At his office in San Mateo, California, Dr. Kay performs root canal treatment to preserve your tooth and prevent tooth loss. To schedule a visit with B. Jeffrey Kay, DDS Dentistry, call the office or book online today.

Call Us

Root Canal Treatment Q & A

What is Root Canal Treatment?

A root canal is a tooth-saving treatment that removes the pulp from the center of your tooth. Tooth pulp is a soft material inside your tooth containing nerves and blood vessels. While essential to your early tooth development, the pulp isn’t needed once your teeth fully mature.

When you have a tooth infection or severely decayed teeth, this damage can reach your tooth pulp. Not only can this cause extreme pain, but it also puts your tooth in danger of requiring removal.

To save your tooth, Dr. Kay performs a root canal, which removes the pulp from your infected or damaged tooth and replaces it with a soft material called gutta-percha.

Why would I need Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal therapy is a tooth-saving procedure that preserves the shape and size of your tooth if it’s extremely decayed. This treatment can also relieve pain and discomfort from a tooth infection. Some of the most common symptoms of tooth infection are:

• Toothache
• Pain when chewing
• Headaches
• Facial swelling
• Fever
• Jaw pain
• Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
• Swollen lymph nodes in neck or jaw

A potentially serious complication of a tooth infection is an abscess. This pus-filled sac forms at the end of your tooth root. Without immediate treatment, a tooth abscess can burst, sending a rush of foul-tasting liquid through your mouth.

What happens during a Root Canal Treatment?

Dr. Kay performs root canals from the comfort of his office, so you won’t have to schedule an appointment with a specialist. 

After administering local anesthesia to minimize discomfort, Dr. Kay creates a small access hole through the center of your tooth. He then uses special dental instruments to remove the pulp.

Reinfection is one of the most common complications of a root canal treatment, so Dr. Kay makes sure to completely clean out your tooth chamber. He removes any debris or bacteria and also disinfects the center of the tooth.

Once your tooth is completely clear of debris, Dr. Kay replaces your tooth pulp with a biocompatible filling material called gutta-percha. Finally, he seals your tooth to ensure bacteria can’t reinfect it.

If your tooth is severely damaged or weakened, Dr. Kay may recommend protecting it with a dental crown — a tooth-shaped cap that fits over your tooth.

Call B. Jeffrey Kay, DDS Dentistry to schedule a root canal, or book an appointment online today.