Yellow circles outlined in yellow show four canals in this tooth. Mandibular molars traditionally have two mesial canals, but this one has an additional mid-mesial canal. The small-field CBCT was able to locate and treat this extra canal, which a full-field scan would likely have missed.
Root Canal Treatment in La Jolla and San Diego: What to Expect and When to See an Endodontist
A root canal removes infected or damaged tissue from inside a tooth so the tooth can be saved rather than pulled. Endodontists complete 2 to 3 years of additional training to perform it, and at La Jolla Micro Endodontics, every treatment uses operating microscopes and 3D CBCT imaging. Most patients return to normal activity the same day or the next day.
Root canal treatment removes infected or damaged tissue from inside a tooth to relieve pain and save the natural tooth from extraction. At La Jolla Micro Endodontics, an endodontist performs it with precision guided by a microscope. Most treatments take one to two visits.
Quick Answer: If a tooth hurts on its own, aches long after hot or cold, or has been cracked or knocked loose, an endodontist can usually save it in one or two visits.
Key Takeaways
- A root canal saves a natural tooth that would otherwise need extraction.
- Endodontists complete two to three years of training beyond dental school, focused on saving teeth.
- More patients are choosing specialists: endodontists performed 44.4% of endodontic treatments in 2024, up from 34.6% in 2020, according to the American Association of Endodontists.
- Most patients feel only mild tenderness for a few days after treatment.
If you are reading this with a toothache, the first question is usually what the treatment will actually feel like. For most people, it is easier than they expect. This guide explains what happens during and after a root canal, along with the signs your tooth needs specialist care. You can also read more about
root canal treatment at La Jolla Micro Endodontics.
What Is a Root Canal, and Why Would You Need One?
A root canal treats the inside of a tooth after infection or damage reaches the pulp, the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. Left untreated, an infected tooth can cause severe pain, swelling, and eventually loss of the tooth. Root canal therapy clears the infection and allows the tooth to stay in place and function normally for many years.
Common reasons a root canal is recommended include:
- A deep cavity that has reached the nerve of the tooth
- A cracked or fractured tooth causing irreversible inflammation of the inner pulp
- Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, or spontaneous pain
- A tooth that has been knocked loose or fully avulsed from an injury
- Swelling or tenderness in the gum or in other areas of the face
If a tooth has cracked or broken, the practice’s guide on
what to do if you have a fractured tooth covers the first steps to take before your appointment.
What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment follows a predictable, well-tested sequence. The endodontist first confirms exactly which tooth and canals are involved, numbs the area, verifies that the anesthesia has taken effect, and places a rubber dam to isolate the tooth. The damaged tissue is then removed, and the canal system is cleaned, shaped, and sealed. Careful imaging at the start supports an accurate diagnosis and makes the rest of the appointment predictable.
- Examination and imaging to confirm the tooth and canal structure involved, including a small-field 3D cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan
- Local anesthesia so the procedure is comfortable throughout
- Removal of infected or damaged tissue from inside the tooth
- Cleaning and shaping of the canal to prepare it for sealing
- Sealing the tooth, after which a permanent crown is often, but not always, placed to restore full strength
CBCT provides a three-dimensional view of the tooth and surrounding bone that a standard dental X-ray cannot show. La Jolla Micro Endodontics uses a KaVo OP 3D unit, chosen for its diagnostic quality. For root canal care, the scan is limited to a small area, about 5 by 5 centimeters around the tooth being treated, and taken at the unit’s dedicated endodontic resolution. Narrowing the field in this way produces much finer detail and fewer streaks from nearby crowns and fillings, while exposing a smaller area to radiation. At that level of detail, hairline cracks, extra canals, and small infections at the root tip become visible, where a large-field scan of the whole jaw can blur them.
Why Choose an Endodontist Over a General Dentist?
An endodontist completes two to three years of additional training beyond dental school, focused entirely on saving teeth. That specialization means more experience with complex root canal cases, including teeth with unusual canal anatomy, as well as retreatment, surgical, regenerative, and trauma treatments.
The team at La Jolla Micro Endodontics uses operating microscopes and advanced imaging (CBCT), providing the highest level of precision. Microendodontics applies this magnification and imaging at every stage of treatment. This approach helps preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible and supports a high long-term success rate.
Patients are increasingly making that choice. According to American Association of Endodontists data released in September 2025, endodontists performed 44.4% of endodontic treatments in 2024, up from 34.6% in 2020, based on nationwide dental insurance claims. In the same report, 94% of adults surveyed said keeping their natural teeth as long as possible is important to them.
What Should You Expect After Treatment?
Most patients experience mild tenderness for a few days after treatment, which is manageable with over-the-counter pain medication. Most patients can resume normal eating and activity the same day or the day after. A final restoration protects the tooth and restores full chewing strength once the root canal is sealed and asymptomatic.
Patients who have been through it tend to agree. In the AAE’s 2025 consumer survey, 71% of adults who had a root canal said they were glad they chose it over extraction.
Where Can You Get Root Canal Care in La Jolla and San Diego?
La Jolla Micro Endodontics provides personalized root canal care to patients throughout La Jolla, UTC, Torrey Pines, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Mira Mesa, Clairemont Mesa, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, Mission Valley, and the greater San Diego area, backed by more than 170 Google reviews with a 5.0-star average.
The practice is located at 8950 Villa La Jolla Drive, Suite A207, La Jolla, CA 92037, and can be reached at (858) 452-2800.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a root canal painful?
Endodontists are trained to numb patients, and modern anesthesia makes the procedure comfortable. Most patients report the experience is just as easy as, or easier than, getting a filling, and any tenderness afterward is mild and short-lived.
How long does a root canal take?
Most root canals take one to two appointments, depending on the tooth, its presentation, and the complexity of the canal system. Your endodontist will explain how many visits to expect once imaging confirms what the tooth needs.
What is the difference between an endodontist and a general dentist?
A general dentist provides broad oral health care, while an endodontist completes two to three years of additional training focused specifically on saving teeth. Endodontists typically handle more complex or unusual cases and provide diagnosis, pain management, root canal treatment, retreatment, regenerative treatment, surgery, and trauma management.
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
Often, yes, especially for back teeth that handle heavy chewing pressure. A crown restores strength and protects the tooth long term, but every tooth is different, and your endodontist will discuss your options at your treatment appointment.
What happens if a tooth is knocked out or fractured in an injury?
A knocked-out or fractured tooth needs prompt attention. Depending on the injury, root canal treatment can often save the natural tooth rather than requiring extraction. Contact the practice as soon as possible after any dental trauma.
Specialist Care Led by Dr. Katherine A. Thomson
La Jolla Micro Endodontics is led by Dr. Katherine A. Thomson, DDS, MS, an endodontist with 25 years of experience who serves as adjunct clinical faculty at USC.She earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at UCLA and completed a two-year endodontics residency at USC and her practice focuses on endodontics and dental traumatology. The practice serves patients in La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Solana Beach, and throughout greater San Diego with advanced, microscope-assisted root canal treatment.
Author: Dr. Katherine A. Thomson, DDS, MS, Endodontist, La Jolla Micro Endodontics
Serving: La Jolla (ZIP 92037) and the greater San Diego area
Know What to Expect
A root canal is a predictable procedure, usually finished in one or two visits, and most patients are back to their normal routine the same day or the next day. If a tooth hurts on its own or aches long after hot or cold, start with a consultation with an endodontist.
To schedule a root canal consultation in La Jolla, Del Mar, Pacific Beach, or anywhere in greater San Diego, call (858) 452-2800.
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