The First Visit
Your initial visit will be an examination and consultation appointment.  The doctor will review your medical and dental history, take any necessary x-rays, and test teeth in the affected area to form a definitive diagnosis.  This testing will involve a comparison of how teeth respond to various stimuli like percussion (tapping), biting, cold, and palpation.

The doctor will then discuss treatment options and recommendations with you, including related costs.  We make every effort to provide you, the patient, with enough information to make decisions about your treatment that best fit your needs.

Our office will send a report to your primary dentist to inform them of the results of the examination and our recommendations for treatment.  If your case is complex, the doctor may need to talk with your dentist to discuss and coordinate treatment recommendations.
What is a root canal?
Root canal treatment is the most common endodontic procedure, and is an attempt to save a tooth that has become severely infected or decayed.  The primary alternative to root canal treatment is the extraction of the tooth, followed by an implant.  Failure to treat or remove the tooth can have serious consequences (swelling, pain, infection, etc).  

The tissue at the center of a tooth, known as the pulp, resides in a series of interior structures that form the "root" of the tooth.   When this tissue becomes infected or damaged, the process of removing it and treating the infected area is commonly known as a "root canal" procedure.  During the treatment process, the inside of the root canal system is cleaned, shaped, disinfected, and sealed.  The more effectively each of these steps can be accomplished, the higher the probability of success.

The full course of treatment usually takes between 1 - 3 office visits, depending on the degree of difficulty in the procedure, the presence of infection, the treatment of infection with medication, the type of filling material used to seal the canals, and patient response to the procedure.  Dr. Ingersoll usually schedules an interim medication appointment for root canal treatments, as part of the disinfecting process.

One of the greatest challenges to root canal treatment, particularly in older patients, is the narrowing of the canals with calcium deposits.  This process, known as calcification, occurs naturally with age but can also result from trauma to the tooth.  The presence of deep decay which has irritated a tooth for an extended period of time, or a large restoration (filling, crown, etc), often accelerates this process.

Severe calcification can impede access to the canals, making treatment more challenging.  Additional time may be required to complete root canal treatment in such cases.  If the canal(s) cannot be accessed fully, it is more likely that root end surgery or even tooth extraction may be necessary.


After treatment, it is not unusual to have some discomfort to biting pressure.  Most teeth will exhibit some degree of pressure discomfort due to inflammation beyond the root end, as the surrounding tissues which support the tooth are very much alive.  This discomfort will lessen with time. 

While many patients experience little or no pain following treatment, some experience a short period of intense pain and/or swelling.  Studies show that approximately 7% of cases experience such flare-ups.  As each tooth and each patient respond differently to treatment, it is not possible to predict how a tooth will respond after each visit.

The general success rate of root canal therapy is about 90%, less so in the presence of bone loss, gum issues, cracks, etc.  In situations where a previous root canal treatment is at risk of failing, one treatment option is root end surgery (often known as an apicoectomy or retrofill).  The rate of cases requiring a retrofill is low (approximately 5%).

Contact Us
Phone:  (714) 569-1128
Fax:        (714) 752-5932

Email:    info@ingersolldds.com

1200 North Tustin Avenue
Suite #111
Santa Ana, CA 92705
To make an appointment, or learn more about our practice, please call or email us.
 
Our office is open Monday through Friday, with the exception of major holidays.

For emergency care outside of normal business hours, please reach out to us by telephone.