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Root Canal Dentist · City Heights, San Diego
A toothache that has turned into throbbing pain, sensitivity to heat, or swelling around the gum is often a sign that the nerve inside the tooth is infected or inflamed. A root canal treats that infection, relieves the pain, and — most importantly — keeps your natural tooth rather than losing it to extraction. Our office is right here in City Heights on University Ave between 52nd and 54th Streets, next to Vien Dong Supermarket, so you do not have to cross town to get care.
We have been treating City Heights families for more than 30 years and accept Denti-Cal, Medi-Cal, most major PPO plans, and cash pay with published fees and no hidden charges. We explain exactly what the procedure involves and what it costs before anything starts — so you can make a clear decision with no surprises.
We are on the south side of University Ave between 52nd and 54th Streets, next to Vien Dong Supermarket — the center of City Heights. There is parking on site, and whether you are coming from the east or west side of the neighborhood, you are only a short drive or bus ride away.
Inside every tooth is a narrow channel — the root canal — that contains soft tissue called pulp: nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When decay goes deep enough, or when a tooth cracks or is injured, bacteria can reach the pulp and cause an infection. That infection produces the intense, often constant pain that tells you something is wrong. Left untreated, the infection can spread into the surrounding bone and jaw.
A root canal removes the infected or inflamed pulp, cleans and shapes the canal, and seals it so bacteria cannot re-enter. The tooth stays in your mouth and continues to function normally. After the root canal is complete, the tooth is restored — typically with a core buildup and a crown — to protect it and bring it back to full strength. The crown can be porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal depending on which tooth it is and what you prefer.
The alternative to a root canal is usually extraction. Losing a tooth creates its own problems over time (shifting of neighboring teeth, bone loss at the site, chewing difficulty), so saving the natural tooth is almost always the better outcome when it is possible. We perform root canals on front teeth, premolars, and molars, and we also retreat teeth that had a prior root canal but have become re-infected.
We take a digital X-ray of the affected tooth and surrounding bone to see how deep the infection has gone and which canals need treatment. We will go over what we see with you, explain the options, and confirm the fee before we do anything else.
The area is numbed thoroughly before we begin. Most patients are surprised by how manageable the procedure is once the local anesthetic is in place. If you are anxious, let us know — we will take extra time to make sure you are comfortable and explain each step as we go.
We remove the infected pulp, clean the canal with fine instruments and an antimicrobial rinse, shape it, and seal it with a biocompatible filling material. For a multi-canal molar this may require more than one visit; front teeth and premolars are often finished in a single appointment.
Once the root canal is complete, the tooth needs a permanent restoration to protect it from cracking under chewing forces. We build up the core of the tooth and place a crown — porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal — so it looks and functions like a natural tooth again.
Tooth pain that will not go away? Call us — let's take a look.
A root canal is appropriate when the pulp inside a tooth is infected or irreversibly damaged but the tooth itself can still be saved. Signs that often lead to a root canal diagnosis include:
If you have facial swelling that is spreading or affecting your breathing or swallowing, that is a medical emergency — call 911 or go to the nearest ER. Do not wait for a dental appointment.
City Heights — Common Questions
We are right here on University Ave between 52nd and 54th, next to Vien Dong Supermarket. Denti-Cal, most PPOs, and cash pay accepted; fees explained up front. Bilingual staff — hablamos español, nói tiếng Việt.