If "root canal" still makes you wince, the reputation hasn't caught up to the procedure. Modern root canal treatment in Agoura Hills is faster, more comfortable, and more predictable than fillings used to be a generation ago. Most cases are done in a single visit, with sedation available — patients from across Agoura Hills, Calabasas, and Conejo Valley routinely tell us: "Wait, that was it?"
Severe tooth pain right now? See our emergency dentistry page. Nervous about the procedure? Sedation options are available for every root canal.
Every tooth has a soft inner core called the pulp — nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue running from the chewing surface down through the roots. When that pulp gets infected (from deep decay, a crack, or trauma), it dies. Root canal therapy removes the infected pulp, disinfects the empty canal system inside the tooth, and seals it — letting you keep the natural tooth structure that's been protecting your bite for decades.
Especially pain that comes on without obvious cause, wakes you up at night, or keeps you from concentrating. Infected pulp generates pressure inside the tooth that doesn't subside on its own.
Brief sensitivity to ice cream is usually a worn filling or exposed root. But if cold makes a tooth ache for more than 30 seconds — or worse, if heat now causes pain — that's a classic sign of pulp involvement.
If a specific tooth hurts when you chew or tap it, the tissues around the root tip are likely inflamed — meaning infection has reached the bone surrounding the tooth.
A small pimple-like bump (called a fistula) on the gum near a tooth is the body venting infection. Even if it doesn't hurt, that swelling means the tooth needs treatment now.
When the pulp inside a single tooth dies — often from past trauma — the tooth gradually turns gray, brown, or yellow compared to its neighbors. The change can show up months or years after the original injury.
An infection draining into your mouth produces a persistent bad taste or breath that brushing, flossing, and mouthwash don't fix. Often paired with one of the symptoms above.
If any of these describe you, call us same-day — infections don't get better on their own and they get more expensive to treat the longer they wait.
For most teeth, saving the natural tooth is the better long-term choice — it's less invasive, less expensive, and preserves the bone and jaw alignment that supports the rest of your bite. Extraction + implant is the right call when the tooth is too cracked or decayed to save, or when previous root canal treatment has failed.
Save the natural tooth
Replace the tooth
Need an implant instead? Learn about single-tooth dental implants →
Total chair time for most front teeth: 60 minutes. Molars (more canals): 75–90 minutes. Sedation is available for the entire visit if you prefer.
First 24–48 hours. The tooth may feel tender to chewing pressure — completely normal as the surrounding tissues calm down. Over-the-counter ibuprofen and acetaminophen on a schedule for the first day usually handles it. Avoid chewing hard food on that side until your crown is placed.
First 2 weeks. Mild sensitivity to bite pressure is common as inflammation around the root tip resolves. Pain that gets worse rather than better should be reported — but this is uncommon. Most patients are back to forgetting about the tooth entirely by day 3–4.
Crown placement (2–3 weeks later). The treated tooth becomes more brittle without its blood supply, so a crown is essential to protect it from cracking. We'll place the final crown 2–3 weeks after the root canal — same-day with our in-house CEREC milling. The full procedure (numbing, prep, scan, mill, cement) takes about 90 minutes from start to finish.
Lifelong care. Once treated and crowned, the tooth functions normally for life in most cases. Twice-yearly cleanings, daily brushing and flossing, and routine X-rays at your check-ups confirm everything stays healthy. Re-infection is rare (under 5%) and usually treatable with a "retreatment" if it ever happens.
Root canal therapy is generally classified as a "major" or "basic restorative" procedure depending on your plan — meaning 50–80% coverage for most patients with dental insurance. Out-of-pocket costs vary by tooth type: front teeth (one canal) run $800–$1,200; bicuspids (two canals) $900–$1,400; molars (three to four canals) $1,200–$1,600. The follow-up crown runs an additional $1,200–$1,800. We verify benefits before treatment and present a clear written estimate.
See Financing Options →Have insurance questions? Visit our financing page or contact us.
Same-day diagnosis available for active tooth pain. Free consultation if you're weighing your options — no pressure, just clear answers.
28632 Roadside Dr #270, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 · Mon–Thu 8am–5pm · Fri 8am–3pm