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Root Canals
Your Comfort Is Our Main Priority

We work hard to keep our patients comfortable, especially during procedures like root canal therapy.

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Root Canal Treatment in Lake Forest, CA

Very few patients react positively when they hear they need a root canal, but for many, that’s because of the sinister reputation this dental procedure has. In reality, root canal therapy has outgrown this myth.

Modern root canal treatment uses advanced dental instruments and techniques and is often just as comfortable as a filling.

Patients near Foothill Ranch who come to Healthy Living Dentistry in need of a root canal are often experiencing significant dental pain, which we can quickly relieve. Root canals allow us to help restore our patient’s peace of mind and stress-free smile.

More often than not, by the time we see a patient with tooth pain, they may require root canal therapy to manage their pain and save a tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted and replaced. By carrying out a root canal, we can save you discomfort, stress, and money.

When Do Patients Need a Root Canal?father with son at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Orange County

In our many years of experience, we’ve discovered that demystifying the root canal procedure can cut down on many of the stress and fear that patients might have.

For example, did you know that the root canal is itself a natural part of your tooth? It is a cavity within your tooth that houses the nerve and pulp chamber.

Occasionally, the root canal can become inflamed or infected. When this happens, patients often report pain, tooth sensitivity, swelling, or abscesses – all signs that the inner part of your tooth has become infected. Without treatment, the infection can spread to neighboring healthy teeth, creating havoc and damage to your gums and jawbone along the way.

During the root canal procedure, Dr. Roy Kim, DDS will administer a local anesthetic, so you don’t feel a thing.

Using advanced dental tools, he will then carefully remove any infected tissue. At this point, we will sterilize and seal the area to prevent reinfection. Finally, Dr. Kim will bond a dental crown to the tooth to help protect and stabilize it.

The process of a root canal can weaken your tooth's integrity, but the dental crown restores it. Patients will go over this with Dr. Kim before the procedure, so there are no surprises.

When Do I Need a Root Canal?

If you are experiencing any pain or signs of an inflamed tooth, call Healthy Living Dentistry right away at (949) 830-2003. We accept dental emergencies and work hard to see you on the same day. 

While not the norm, it is possible that an infected or damaged tooth isn’t accompanied by tooth pain. At this stage, this may indicate that the nerve has died. We can catch this situation during routine dental cleanings and exams. Even though you don’t feel pain, we still need to treat the issue to prevent problems down the road.

Schedule a Root Canal Appointment in Foothill Ranch, CA

Call Healthy Living Dentistry today at (949) 830-2003 to schedule your appointment for root canal treatment.

Please don’t wait for your tooth pain to get worse; contact us so we can save your tooth and manage your pain. 

He carefully explains his recommendations and was very transparent with the cost

Dr. Kim is a very friendly and caring professional and extremely skilled dentist. I’ve had 2 fillings done by him and I had a great experience both times. At no point did I feel that he was trying to talk me into doing something that I didn’t need. He carefully explains his recommendations and was very transparent with the cost. I would recommend his office without any hesitation.

- Ana S.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tooth decay is a prevalent health disorder worldwide and primarily leads to cavities that we fix with tooth-colored dental fillings. But in more advanced cases, the bacteria which cause cavities may penetrate your inner tooth. Inside is a cavity that houses your living pulp, enriched with blood vessels and nerves that keep your tooth alive.

If a bacterial infection inflames your inner tooth, you may experience sensitivity, toothaches, and eventual tooth loss. A root canal procedure solves this problem. Dr. Roy Kim, DDS will take digital dental x-rays at our Foothill Ranch dentist office and do additional testing to determine if a root canal is necessary.

The Process for Root Canals in Foothill Ranch

Dr. Kim’s dental team will prepare you for treatment by answering all questions and ensuring your comfort. We can usually complete this process in two visits. During the first visit, we numb your tooth to relieve any existing pain and keep you comfortable. Then, Dr. Kim uses advanced tools to remove any infected tooth pulp and seals your inner tooth to prevent future infections.

We also will take impressions of your original tooth so an outside lab can create a dental crown that blends into your smile.

After a week or two, your dental crown will be ready, and Dr. Kim can place it over your sealed tooth to protect it for the long run. Though a root canal requires your damaged tooth to be altered, your dental crown restores its look and function.

Contact Healthy Living Dentistry Today

If you have additional questions about the root canal procedure, or are ready to book a dental appointment in Foothill Ranch, Healthy Living Dentistry welcomes your call at (949) 830-2003.

Good news! Root canals, in addition to being extremely effective long-term solutions to tooth decay and providing immediate relief from pain, are largely pain-free!

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a procedure in which, due to severe decay or breakage, a tooth´s infected or injured “pulp,” or internal soft tissue, which contains nerves and blood vessels, must be removed. After removing the infected pulp, the dentist will disinfect the hollow space. The final step is to fill the material with a biocompatible filling material called gutta-percha to prevent reinfection and seal the tooth to protect it as it heals. 

From the time the dentist numbs the tooth and removes the pulp, through healing and placement of the final crown, you will likely experience some soreness but no pain. Any sensitivity you feel immediately after root canal treatment can be relieved by taking over-the-counter pain medication. Moreover, a root canal will typically last for over a decade with proper care before any re-treatment is required!

Root Canals in Foothill Ranch, CA

Are you looking for a "dentist near me?" If you’re in the Foothill Ranch area and think you may need a root canal, contact dentist Dr. Roy Kim and the team at Healthy Living Dentistry to schedule a consultation appointment.

Meet Our Doctor:

Headshot of Dr Roy Kim DDS dentist in Lake Forest CA

Dr. Roy Kim
Doctor of Dental Surgery

“My goal is to treat patients as my family and build lasting healthy smiles and relationships. There is nothing more important to me than providing the best possible care in a comfortable environment, utilizing the most advanced technology”

Dr. Roy Kim is committed to providing the highest level of oral care and cosmetic dentistry to his patients at his family-oriented Orange County Office.

Dr. Kim is a graduate of the UCLA School of Dentistry, where he completed a Master’s Degree in Oral Biology while studying for this dental degree. With his ...

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Tooth Paining

If you've heard horror stories about root canal treatment, we're here to dispel the myths and alleviate your concerns. Many people associate root canals with pain, but the discomfort you feel when you need root canal treatment is actually caused by an infection in your tooth. A root canal eliminates that infection and protects your tooth from extraction. Here's what you should know. 

When Do We Recommend Root Canal Treatment in Foothill Ranch?

When your tooth becomes infected, these are some of the signs and symptoms:

  • Pain or discomfort when chewing
  • Darkening or discoloration ...
July 27, 2022

How Painful Is a Root Canal?

Woman smiling in chair at root canal dentist Lake Forest

Root canals are painful only in myths. In reality, root canal treatment in Foothill Ranch, CA is pain-relieving. It is the only way to save a deeply infected tooth from loss or the need for extraction.

Reasons Your Dentist Recommends Root Canal Treatment

If you have an infection at the center of your tooth, the area that holds the pulp and nerves, it’s essential to eradicate it as soon as possible. Without treatment, the infection spreads, causes pain, and eventually tooth loss.

If you have a root infection, you likely already have a ...

Stress-Free Root Canals in Foothill Ranch, CA
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