Endodontics (Root Canal Treatment)

A branch of dentistry focused on the inner structures of the tooth, endodontics is defined as a branch of dentistry concerned with diseases of the pulp. You might know it better by its common name, root canal therapy, the treatment your dentist recommends once a problem moves past the enamel and dentin and reaches the pulp itself.

At Center for Dental Health La Jolla, Dr. Sandhya Hegde, D.D.S., B.D.S., and the endodontic team treat this exact turning point every day, when the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, whether from deep decay, a fracture, or repeated dental work on the same tooth. The damage doesn’t resolve without clinical intervention, and the consequences of waiting tend to compound over time.

Meet The Team

Dr. Haris Lakisic serves as the endodontist at Center for Dental Health La Jolla, bringing a strong academic and clinical foundation to every root canal treatment he performs. He graduated magna cum laude in biology from Pepperdine University before earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2003 from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also completed his Master of Science in Endodontics in 2006.

His training at one of the country’s leading dental schools prepared him to manage complex cases of pulp infection, internal tooth damage, and failed prior endodontic treatment with precision. Patients benefit from his specialty background within a broader multi-specialty team that includes a periodontist, oral surgeon, and orthodontist, all practicing under one roof.

Learn About Your Doctor!

Benefits Of Endodontics

Save Your Natural Tooth

Nothing works quite like your own tooth, and endodontic treatment is built around keeping it in your mouth rather than pulling it. You avoid the added steps, cost, and healing time that come with an extraction and a replacement tooth. Your bite, your jawbone, and your smile all benefit from keeping what’s naturally yours.

Stop The Pain At Its Source

A tooth that’s throbbing, aching, or sensitive to hot and cold usually won’t improve on its own. Endodontic treatment removes the inflamed or infected tissue causing the pain, not just the symptom. Most patients feel real relief once the source of the problem is gone.

Protect Neighboring Teeth And Bone

An infection left inside a tooth doesn’t always stay contained. Left untreated, it can spread to the bone around the root or affect the teeth next to it. Treating the problem early through endodontics protects the rest of your mouth from a bigger, more expensive problem later.

Faster Recovery Than Extraction And Replacement

Compared to losing a tooth and replacing it with an implant or bridge, root canal treatment is usually quicker to recover from and requires fewer appointments. You keep your existing tooth structure and root, so there’s no bone grafting or implant healing time to plan around. Most patients are back to normal eating within a few days.

Lower Long-Term Cost Compared To Tooth Loss

Saving your tooth now is almost always less expensive than the alternative path of extraction, bone grafting, and implant placement down the road. You avoid the extra procedures, appointments, and lab work that come with replacing a missing tooth. For most patients, treating the tooth you have is the more cost-effective choice.

Conditions, Symptoms, And Pain That Require Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment addresses damage or infection that has reached the pulp, the soft tissue at the center of a tooth containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The most common causes include deep decay left untreated at an earlier stage, a cracked or fractured tooth, repeated dental procedures on the same tooth, or a traumatic injury to the face. When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, patients often experience persistent pain, sensitivity to heat or cold that lingers after the source is removed, swelling near the affected tooth, or discoloration of the tooth itself.

Endodontic treatment removes the damaged pulp, cleans and shapes the root canals, and seals the tooth to prevent reinfection. Endodontic treatment is one of the more common dental procedures performed nationally: the American Association of Endodontists reports that more than 15 million teeth are treated and saved with root canal treatment every year.

Recognizing The Problem

Pulp damage doesn’t always announce itself with obvious pain. Some teeth requiring root canal treatment remain completely asymptomatic until the infection has progressed to the surrounding bone, which is one reason routine check-ups catch problems patients wouldn’t otherwise notice. The American Association of Endodontists’ diagnostic classification confirms this pattern directly: a condition called asymptomatic apical periodontitis “does not present clinical symptoms (no pain on percussion or palpation)” even as the tissue around the root tip continues to break down.

When symptoms do appear, they tend to follow a recognizable pattern: lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, a dull ache that returns without a clear trigger, tenderness when biting down on one particular tooth, or a raised bump on the gum near the root, sometimes called a sinus tract, where the body is draining the infection. Any one of these signs warrants a professional evaluation rather than a wait-and-see approach.

When should you seek a professional?

Symptoms consistent with pulp infection that persist beyond a few days are a reliable signal that professional evaluation is needed, since bacteria inside the root canal system have no natural exit and won’t resolve without clinical care.

The American Dental Association’s evidence-based pain-management guideline reflects this directly, framed around the “temporary management” of toothache tied to pulp and periapical disease specifically for situations where “definitive dental treatment not immediately available,” underscoring that at-home pain control is a bridge to, not a substitute for, professional care. For patients who’ve previously avoided dental care due to anxiety, options including I.V. sedation are available to make the evaluation and any subsequent treatment more manageable

Speak With A Professional!

Prevention And Hygiene Education

Most conditions that lead to endodontic treatment begin as problems that were preventable or detectable at an earlier, less invasive stage. Deep decay that reaches the pulp typically starts as surface decay missed at a check-up or left untreated after diagnosis, and cracks that let bacteria into the pulp chamber are more common in teeth weakened by large restorations or untreated grinding habits.

Brushing and flossing reduce the bacterial load that drives decay, and the ADA’s own patient guidance sets the baseline: brushing twice daily, cleaning between teeth once a day, and seeing a dentist regularly for prevention and treatment of oral disease. Periodontal health matters too, since advanced gum disease can let bacteria reach the root surfaces and enter the canal system from below the gumline rather than through the crown of the tooth.

Popular Home Remedies For Tooth Pain

Patients who suspect a tooth infection but can’t immediately access professional care often turn to home-based approaches to manage discomfort in the interim, most commonly clove oil (which contains the pain-relieving compound eugenol), saltwater rinses, cold compresses, and over-the-counter analgesics such as ibuprofen.

A peer-reviewed survey of self-managed dental pain found herbal remedies used by roughly 11% of respondents and saltwater rinsing by roughly 5%, alongside more common reliance on over-the-counter analgesics. These approaches offer temporary relief while waiting for a professional appointment, not a substitute for clinical evaluation.

What The Research Says

Eugenol does have measurable analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that provide short-term relief from dental pain, and it’s been used in clinical dentistry as a component of certain temporary filling materials for this reason.

A randomized clinical trial of patients with irreversible pulpitis found “stronger efficiency of eugenol than articaine” as a temporary pulp dressing for pain control in the first day after emergency treatment. But no home remedy addresses the source of the infection: the bacteria inside the root canal system stay active regardless of surface-level pain relief, and relying on home care past a short interim period only delays treatment and increases its eventual complexity.

Speak With A Professional!

Cost And Insurance

Root canal treatment is generally more cost-effective than the alternatives patients face when an infected tooth is left untreated long enough to become non-restorable. Extraction followed by implant placement, or a fixed bridge to replace the missing tooth, involves more appointments, more clinical complexity, and greater overall expense than treating the original tooth through endodontic care.

Most dental insurance plans that include major restorative benefits provide some level of coverage for root canal treatment, which can meaningfully reduce out-of-pocket costs depending on the plan.

Industry Average Pricing

The figures below represent national industry averages for root canal treatment, sourced from published cost surveys and national dental association data, and don’t reflect specific pricing at Center for Dental Health La Jolla. A 2023 to 2024 national cost study conducted by ASQ360° on behalf of Synchrony’s CareCredit found the national average cost of a root canal to be $1,165, with a typical range of roughly $500 to $1,800 depending on the tooth and case complexity. \

Delta Dental’s published treatment-cost data breaks this down further: roughly $1,200 for a front tooth, $1,300 for a premolar, and $1,500 for a molar, since front teeth have simpler, single-canal roots while molars can have three or four canals and more complex anatomy. A crown placed after the procedure to protect the restored tooth is a separate cost patients should factor in, as most endodontically treated posterior teeth require crown coverage to remain functional long-term.

Common Insurance Providers

The insurance providers listed below represent a general industry reference for plans that commonly include endodontic benefits, not a guarantee of what’s accepted at Center for Dental Health La Jolla, since coverage varies between plans and policy types. The National Association of Dental Plans’ 2025 Dental Benefits Report, from the largest non-profit trade association covering the dental benefits industry, found that nearly 284 million Americans carry some form of dental benefit, most through Dental Preferred Provider Organization (DPPO) plans, which make up about 89% of commercial dental enrollment.

Major national carriers offering these plan types include companies such as Delta Dental, MetLife, Cigna, Guardian, and United Concordia, among others, each with varying levels of endodontic coverage. Patients are encouraged to verify their coverage directly with the team before scheduling treatment.

Speak With A Professional!

Your Root Canal Treatment, Step By Step

Reviewing Your Symptoms And X-Rays

Your visit starts with a conversation about the pain or symptoms you’ve noticed, followed by a clinical exam and X-rays of the affected tooth. Dr. Sandhya Hegde, D.D.S., B.D.S., and the endodontic team review your history together before deciding on next steps. You’ll leave this visit understanding exactly what’s happening inside your tooth.

Confirming Your Diagnosis

Once the exam and X-rays are complete, your endodontist confirms whether the pulp is inflamed, infected, or already breaking down. This diagnosis determines whether a root canal is truly the right path, or whether a less invasive option could still work. You’ll know exactly why treatment is being recommended before moving forward.

Numbing The Tooth And Accessing The Pulp

Treatment starts with local anesthesia so you feel pressure, not pain, throughout the procedure. Once the tooth is numb, your endodontist creates a small opening through the crown to reach the infected pulp chamber. Most patients are surprised by how little they feel once this step begins.

Cleaning And Sealing The Canal

The infected pulp is removed, and the canals are cleaned and shaped using rotary endodontic instruments and irrigating solutions. Once the canal system is fully disinfected, it’s filled and sealed with a biocompatible material to prevent reinfection. Most root canals are completed in one or two appointments.

Placing Your Crown Or Filling

With the canal sealed, your tooth needs a permanent restoration to protect it going forward. Depending on the tooth and how much structure remains, this may mean a filling or a full crown. This step restores your ability to bite and chew normally on that tooth.

Checking Your Healing At Follow-Up

A follow-up visit confirms the tooth is healing as expected and that your restoration is holding up under normal use. Dr. Hegde and the team check that your bite feels comfortable and that there’s no lingering sensitivity or swelling. Routine checkups after that catch any issues early.

The Sooner You Come In, The Simpler It Is

That ache that flares up every time you sip coffee or bite down wrong isn’t going away on its own. Dr. Sandhya Hegde, D.D.S., B.D.S., and the endodontic team at Center for Dental Health La Jolla can look at the tooth, tell you what’s actually going on, and start treatment the same visit if it’s needed. Call 858.546.0100, or check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and X before you come in.

Book Your Consultation!

FAQs

How long does a root canal take?

Most root canal treatments take one to two appointments, with each visit lasting roughly 60 to 90 minutes depending on the tooth. Molars with multiple canals typically take longer than front teeth, which have a simpler root structure. Your endodontist will give you a more specific estimate once they’ve reviewed your X-rays and confirmed the extent of the infection.

How much does a root canal cost?

Root canal cost depends on which tooth is treated, since front teeth, premolars, and molars all have different levels of complexity. A 2023 to 2024 national cost study found the average root canal costs $1,165, with a typical range of roughly $500 to $1,800. Dental insurance often covers a portion of the procedure, so your out-of-pocket cost may be lower than these national averages.

Do root canals hurt?

Root canal treatment itself is performed under local anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel pain during the procedure, only pressure and movement. Most of the discomfort patients associate with root canals actually comes from the untreated infection beforehand, not the treatment that resolves it. Sedation options are available if you experience dental anxiety or want additional comfort during the appointment.

Are root canals sore?

Mild soreness or tenderness for a few days after treatment is common and typically manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers. This soreness usually comes from the tissue around the tooth adjusting after treatment, not from the procedure going wrong. If soreness is severe, worsens after a few days, or comes with swelling, contact your dentist for evaluation.

How do you know if you need a root canal?

Common signs include lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, a dull ache that returns without warning, pain when biting down on one specific tooth, or a small bump on the gum near the root. Some infected teeth show no symptoms at all until the infection has progressed, which is one reason routine checkups matter. A dentist or endodontist can confirm whether a root canal is needed through a clinical exam, X-rays, and pulp testing.

Dentist in La Jolla San Diego

Endodontics (Root Canal Treatment)

Meet The Team

Benefits Of Endodontics

Save Your Natural Tooth

Stop The Pain At Its Source

Protect Neighboring Teeth And Bone

Faster Recovery Than Extraction And Replacement

Lower Long-Term Cost Compared To Tooth Loss

Conditions, Symptoms, And Pain That Require Root Canal Treatment