A root canal is a dental procedure that is used to remove diseased pulp tissue from the interior of a tooth. The narrow channels beneath the pulp chamber in the inner part of the tooth are hollowed out and cleaned, and the roots are filed with flexible nickel titanium files.
A tooth is made up of three main components: a hard protective shell referred to as enamel, a softer and sensitive middle layer referred to as dentin and a soft tissue inner layer referred to as dental pulp. Dental pulp is composed of nerve tissue, lymph tissue and blood vessels, and is considered to be the vital part of a tooth. If dental pulp is sufficiently traumatized whether by exposure to oral bacteria via deep dental caries, a fracture in the tooth that enters the pulp or a forceful blow to the face the tooth begins to die and root canal therapy is often required in order to prevent or eliminate infection and prevent tooth loss.
A root canal procedure involves tooth disinfection and the removal of all debris (nerve tissue, lymph tissue, blood tissue, bacteria and infection) from the coronal pulp chamber and its associated canals. Once an affected tooths canals are sufficiently cleansed and shaped, they are filled with materials designed to prevent pain and infection from recurring.
A tooth can become inflamed or infected for several reasons, including severe tooth decay or a crack or chip in the tooth. Failing restorations such as dental fillings and dental crowns can foster bacterial leakage into the dental pulp. Once infected, the dental pulp begins to die and the bodys inflammatory responses set it. The combination of infection and inflammation can cause significant pain. The end result is a toothache.
In cases where tooth extraction is the only solution, the missing tooth may be replaced with a dental implant or dental bridge to maintain functionality. By replacing the missing tooth, a proper bite is maintained and the surrounding teeth are prevented from shifting. Because a severe infection can be very dangerous, it is important to receive a professional evaluation by a dentist who can look deeper into the cause of a toothache. If an infection spreads beyond the jaw to the head and neck, then more extensive medical treatment, including hospitalization, may be required.
Reviews
Rating 4.7 out of 5 based on 222 reviews
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newest oldest highest lowestRahzzi Sutra
a year ago
I am so pleased with my interaction with The Smile Doctor. From setting the appointment online, receiving a return call less than an hour. To having same-day service as well as taking my insurance and having an affordable co-pay. I would like them to be my primary dentist from here on out. Beyond grateful thanks again. -Roslyn C. Curator of @downtownsacramento
Dawn E Whitney
a year ago
Very careful work, highly competent, informative, and friendly.
Barbara James
a year ago
Friendly and professional. Very helpful advice.
Joseph Holmberg
a year ago
Honestly the most informative and nicest people I have met, highly recommend!
Vanesa Pimental
2 years ago
This office is GREAT!! I've been going to this office for 5 years now and they have always taken care of me and my family Thank you!
Nicole Lopez
2 years ago
I put in a request for an emergency dental service online and within minutes they called me back. After about 5 minutes on the phone they had me come to the office. They were friendly, caring and did not rush. They were able to get my sore tooth out the same day. From start to finish for a tooth extraction I was there for a hour and a half. It was awesome!!
Johnny Golden
2 years ago
The staff is very nice and helpful, and the dentist informed me of everything before doing it. I will be coming back here again.
Jessica Lograsso
2 years ago
I have been going here for a few years and I have never had better dental care. Everyone is super nice and knows exactly what they are doing there. I will never go anywhere else. I'm glad I finally found a dentist I can trust!
Teddy Johnson
2 years ago
Pros: In my insurance, good location to me, and looks like they have a lot of positive reviews on Google. Cons: I scheduled an appt over the phone as a new patient. 3 days before my appointment I get an email saying they booked over my appt and I have been cancelled. They did not call me to reschedule, no nothing. Just a cold email from a robot saying "You've been double booked, we have cancelled your appointment" No thanks! I'll take my business elsewhere.
Araya Smiff
2 years ago
I love this place. Affordable and the staff was very knowledgeable. I understood what I needed done and appreciate the pricing too.
A Nguyen
2 years ago
Had my first visit recently. I was impressed by their customer service and professionalism from beginning to the end. Most importantly, the level of skills I witnessed and experienced made me feel comfortable. No blood pressure medication needed here! Thank you. Wish I would've started coming here sooner.
Brenda Easter
2 years ago
I just spoke to the receptionist at this practice. I told her that I had not had a pleasant experience at their practice when I went in for my cleaning. I told her that the hiegenist was cold and robot like with me on that visit. She said she did not believe that Rayann was cold to me. I asked her to validate what I was saying. She then tried to set up my new appointment with Rayann again and I asked to be treated by a new hyegenist and she said only Rayann could see me. I told her I refused that. She then mentioned I had made a complaint against her and she did not believe she had been rude when she told me, " You owe 900 dollars. She then said, "I don't understand where this hostility is coming from! I am going to switch to a different practice. This receptionist does not understand courtesy and validating patient concerns. Good bye!
Matt Gillum
2 years ago
Had me in the dentist chair 15 minutes after calling the office. 15 minutes later they had x-rays done and the doctor knew exactly what was wrong. Only $70 for a visit with x-rays. Gave me a prescription for norcose and antibiotics. Was in extreme pain when I called and feel better two hours later.
Jaelen Alexander
2 years ago
They really help me out a lot especially Lina out the front desk. Will definitely come back
Jennifer R
2 years ago
Great service. My teeth look AMAZING!
Lisa Frost
2 years ago
Went for an exam and a cracked tooth. Both the hygienist and Dr. Soto were friendly, knowledgeable and explained everything thoroughly. Highly recommend! !
Carey (Dr. Of Machines)
2 years ago
Friendly, clean and detailed staff. Doc took the time to explain what we were seeing in the pictures taken during my exam and what needs to be done moving forward. the front desk staff answered all my questions for what I needed. Was seen quickly after completing paperwork. Happy with the service
Tony Bico
2 years ago
The dental hygienist Rheana was very experience hygienist
Lisa Palma
2 years ago
The smile doctor is a awesome place! The girls in the front desk are very sweet and helpful. The doctor is very nice & easy to talk to.... All the girls that help in the back with the x-rays, cleaning the teeth etc. are awesome people!! There a great team!
Ingrid Ratliff
2 years ago
I rarely review anything and I've never reviewed negatively but I need to put this out there that I had easily one of the most painful and unnecessary experiences of my life in this office. The office staff and hygienists were very friendly so this in no way speaks to them but I feel I have to share this review as the doctor here damaged my molar in a way I'm still coping with today. I went in with a cavity, confirmed by a dentist at another office. The doctor here told me instead of filling it, he should instead do a more invasive procedure: drilling into my molar to make the space large enough to set an inlay/only onto my tooth. I trusted him and he spent literally 2 hours drilling into my healthy tooth. It was excruciatingly painful, and he gave me shot after shot of numbing medication because the pain was so terrible. I just closed my eyes and bore it as he drilled and drilled to make space for this tiny piece of inlay/onlay. I had had plans to spend the evening with my family at a Christmas festival after getting this "filling" but the entire session took many hours of drilling and when I left, I had received so many shots that I had no control over half of my face. I wasn't able to drink water or eat that night, and I had to cancel plans with my family to sit at home and drool because it took the entire night for the numbing medication to wear off. The inlay/only he placed fell out the following day, so I (frustrated and in pain) returned to have it replaced. He replaced it and TWO days later, I bit into some soft milk chocolate and felt an enormous painful crack. It had fallen out AGAIN. I went back very upset and inconvenienced. The doctor assured me that he could drill the hole in my tooth DEEPER to set the inlay better but at this point I had ZERO confidence in his skills, and had really experienced enough pain. I told him I wanted a second opinion and went to a second dentist, who explained to me that for an inlay to be effective it needs to be set in with concave depth - obviously - and this man was trying to basically stick a piece of material onto a flat surface, so of course it was going to fall out. This second opinion dentist filled my filling AND the HOLE the Smile Doctor drilled into my healthy tooth with some filling and I was pain free and back to living my life, with a little less molar. This was a nightmare experience to me. So painful and so frustrating.
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