Root Canals

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Teeth are living things. Just like a cut on your finger can become infected, so too can teeth experience tooth pain, tooth infection, disease, and decay. When this happens, one of the best options for the tooth in question and your oral health, in general, is a root canal.

When your tooth is cracked or chipped or sustains a serious cavity, the pulp of your tooth is in danger of becoming infected. Once a tooth infection has formed, a root canal can not only relieve the pain you are experiencing but also repair the damages area of the tooth root for better function going forward.

At Beveridge Dental in San Jose, our dentists specialize in endodontics, providing quick and effective root canals and tooth infection treatment. If you are experiencing pain from a broken tooth, dental abscess, or infected gums, a root canal may be the best way to address your tooth pain. Call our dental experts at our San Jose office and get on the path to relief today!

Reasons for a Root Canal

You may need a root canal if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

  • Extreme toothache or tooth pain.
  • Abscessed tooth or tooth infection.
  • Ongoing tooth sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures.
  • Discoloration of the tooth in question.
  • Swelling/tenderness of gums.

Root Canal Process

The root canal procedure cleans out the infected pulp and nerve in the root of a tooth. Once the area has been cleaned out, it will be filled and sealed off to prevent further tooth infection. A crown will then be placed over the top of your natural tooth to protect it and restore it to full use again.

More importantly, what happens during a root canal is that we save your tooth! Rather than extracting the tooth, we can clear out a tooth infection, relieve the severe toothache, and help you keep your tooth in place.

Root Canal Therapy

Your tooth is more than just the white crown you see above the surface of your gums. The “root” part of a tooth is the area of the tooth below the surface of the gum that houses the living parts of the tooth. Below the crown, in the center of the tooth, lies the pulp cavity. The pulp cavity is where the nerve endings of a tooth are stored.

Those nerve endings in the pulp extend down toward the bottom of the tooth, in two separate strings that go down either side of the tooth. These are known as the root canals.

The term “root canal” has some negative connotations associated with it. The reality is, however, that root canals are a safe, even preferable solution, in the case of a tooth infection.

“Dr. Beveridge did an excellent job on hoping to save a critical tooth of mine. I had suggested an approach to save me money and protect my physical medical condition. Doctor agreed and proceeded as suggested. Took great care in completing the task at hand. His dental assistant was very helpful as well. Explaining what was being done and making certain I was comfortable throughout the entire process. See you again soon.”

Bob S.

Root Canal FAQs


Root canals can vary in cost depending on the tooth. Molars are more expensive than other because of their location. Generally, a root canal costs between $700 – $1500.

A crown may be necessary after a root canal, but not always. Depending on how much of the healthy tooth is remaining after the root canal, a crown may be used to protect the tooth to prevent infection and decay.

In a study of nearly 500,000 root canals, 86 percent of root canals lasted 10 years or longer. The longevity of a root canal ultimately comes down to a number of factors like timing of treatment, location of the tooth, patient age and more.

Root canal therapy may require one or two appointments. These appointments are about 30-60 minutes long, but can last longer for larger teeth like molars.

Root canals can fall under emergency dentistry if they are serious enough. Tooth infections are extremely painful, and if left untreated for too long, can lead to serious complications including losing the tooth.

Let Us Save Your Teeth!

If you think you might need a root canal, call our office today to set up an appointment. We look forward to restoring your dental health while preserving your teeth and your smile. We work with patients from all over the San Jose area, including Saratoga and Los Gatos, so don’t wait!

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