Root Canal Therapy for Los Angeles and Beyond

June 20, 2014

In our last post, we talked about abscessed teeth and listed some of the most common signs and symptoms of them. Today, we want to talk about root canals–the restorative service Dr. Latner uses to help patients enjoy good oral health and wellbeing again.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a common procedure designed to help patients treat infection. The process involves removing the infected pulp that makes up the tooth’s nerve and cleaning the interior chamber. Then we’ll fill the tooth with a biologically-inert substance and seal it with a custom-made dental crown. Your crown will protect your tooth from developing another infection, in addition to restoring functionality and appearance.

Anxiety-Free Care with Conscious Oral Sedation

Have you put off care for a toothache or abscessed tooth because of anxiety? Let Dr. Latner talk to you about conscious oral sedation. With conscious oral sedation, you can look forward to a more comfortable and relaxing appointment as we administer the important care you need.

Do you have questions about how a root canal can help you? Call Westside Dental Associates for a consultation appointment with Dr. Latner. During your appointment, we can talk about your symptoms. Based on our conversation, we’ll put together a treatment plan, and we may recommend conscious oral sedation. If you have any questions about what we recommend, let us know. We want you to feel confident about the plan we recommend.

Our Los Angeles office serves patients from Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, West LA, and beyond.

What Is an Abscess?

June 11, 2014

Our teeth have multiple layers, with the inner layer containing the tooth’s nerve. Most dental problems involve the protective layer of enamel on the outside of teeth, but sometimes, because of an injury or deep decay, an infection can develop inside the tooth, where the nerve is.

Treating an infected tooth is important. If it’s not treated, an abscess can develop, resulting in a range of uncomfortable symptoms. Signs of an abscessed tooth include:

  • Toothache
  • Sensitivity to hot or cold
  • Redness and swelling
  • A sore or pimple on the side of the gums
  • Pain when chewing
  • A bitter taste in the mouth

If enough time goes by, you may lose your tooth to the infection. Having a gap in your smile creates a new set of obstacles to good oral health. First, nearby teeth will shift out of alignment. Second, your jawbone will lose bone tissue, because you don’t have a root there to stimulate the growth of new tissue. And third, as your jaw loses more bone tissue, you could end up losing other teeth.

Thankfully, there’s a way to treat infected or abscessed teeth with root canal therapy. In our next post, we’ll talk about what a root canal is and how it can help you enjoy good oral health again.

Do any of these symptoms sound like what you’re experiencing? Call Dr. Latner’s Los Angeles dental office to schedule an appointment with us. We’re happy to serve the dental needs of patients from Brentwood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Marina del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, West LA, and all surrounding areas.

Have Questions? Get Answers.