Composite Fillings and Root Canals in Pico Rivera, CA

At Cali Family Dental, we know how important your smile is. Whether you’re dealing with a cavity, a chipped tooth, or a more serious dental issue, we’re here to help. We specialize in restoring your teeth with modern, comfortable methods like composite fillings and root canals. Looking for personalized care and long-lasting results? Our dental office in Pico Rivera, CA, is the place to start.

Let’s talk about what composite fillings and root canals are and why they’re so important in keeping your smile healthy and beautiful.

What Are Composite Fillings and Root Canals?

Composite fillings are a type of dental filling made from a tooth colored resin called composite resin. This material blends in with your natural teeth, making it an ideal solution for visible areas like front teeth. These fillings are used to restore chipped or decayed teeth and protect them from further damage. They are very popular in cosmetic dentistry because of their natural appearance.

Root canals, on the other hand, are a more involved procedure used when tooth decay has reached deep inside the tooth, affecting the nerve or pulp. The treatment involves removing the infected tissue, cleaning the inside of the tooth, and sealing it to prevent further complications. It helps save teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted and improves overall oral health.

Benefits of Composite Fillings and Root Canals

• Natural Appearance
  Composite fillings are designed to match your natural teeth. They blend in well, especially in visible areas, giving you a beautiful smile without any silver fillings showing.
• Durable and Long Lasting
  With proper care and regular brushing, composite fillings and root canals can last for many years. They are a long-lasting solution for restoring function to your teeth.
• Prevents Further Damage
  Treating decayed or damaged teeth early helps prevent further complications. Root canals remove infected tissue before it spreads, and fillings seal up areas vulnerable to further decay.
• Preserves Healthy Tooth Structure
  Composite fillings require less drilling than silver fillings. This helps keep more of your healthy tooth structure intact.

Why Do You Need a Root Canal?

Root canals are typically needed when the pulp of a tooth becomes infected or inflamed due to:

• • Deep cavities

• • Cracked or chipped teeth

• • Trauma or injury to the tooth

• • Gum disease affecting the tooth

The signs that you may need a root canal include:

• • Persistent tooth pain, especially when chewing or biting

• • Swelling or tenderness in the gums near the affected tooth

• • Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures that lingers

• • Discoloration of the tooth

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to schedule an appointment with Dr. Rafaat as soon as possible. Early treatment can help prevent the infection from spreading and keep your tooth intact.

Composite Fillings and Root Canal Procedure

When you come in for a dental appointment at Cali Family Dental, here’s what you can expect:

1. Examination
   We start with an examination to find out what’s going on. This may involve X-rays to check for decay, infected tissue, or damage inside the teeth.
2. Anesthesia
   We use a local anesthetic before any filling procedure or root canal to keep you comfortable. This numbs the area so you feel minimal discomfort.
3. Decay or Infection Removal
   For composite fillings, we remove the decayed part of the tooth. For root canals, we clean out infected tissue from the inside of the tooth.
4. Cleaning and Preparation
   The tooth is cleaned and shaped to prepare for the filling material. In root canals, this step is crucial to remove bacteria.
5. Filling and Sealing
   Composite resin is applied in layers and hardened with a special light. For root canals, the tooth is filled and sealed to prevent reinfection.
6. Finishing Touches
   The filling is shaped and polished to match your bite and blend in with your surrounding teeth. We check to make sure everything fits and looks great.

Frequently Asked Questions