A tooth that throbs on its own, wakes you at 3 AM or flares at anything hot is usually a tooth with an infected or dying nerve. A root canal removes that nerve, clears the infection and keeps the tooth. Call (323) 433-6458 and our dentists can start the same day in our Reseda office, Monday through Friday.
The $99 covers the emergency exam and diagnostic X-rays for patients paying without insurance. Treatment is priced separately and quoted to you in writing before any work starts.
Same-day appointments · $99 exam + X-rays · Phones answered 24/7 · Se habla español
Signs you may need an emergency root canal today
- Pain that arrives with no trigger and lingers, especially at night
- Sensitivity to heat that keeps hurting long after the coffee is gone
- A tooth that hurts when you bite down on it or tap it
- A pimple-like bump on the gum near the tooth, sometimes draining a bad taste
- One tooth turning darker than its neighbors
- Swelling in the gum or cheek on that side
A sharp twinge from cold that fades in seconds is usually something smaller. Pain that stays and builds is the nerve.
What happens at your same-day visit
The $99 exam and X-rays come first, because the outside of a tooth can't tell us what the inside is doing. If the nerve is infected, our dentist explains what a root canal involves, what it costs in writing, and what happens if you'd rather have the tooth removed instead. Then you decide.
The tooth is numbed thoroughly and the dentist checks that it's numb before touching it. A small opening is made in the tooth, the infected nerve tissue is removed, the canals are cleaned and shaped, and they're sealed. A temporary filling closes the tooth. Many teeth are finished in one visit; a badly infected molar sometimes needs a second appointment to be sure the infection is gone before the tooth is sealed for good. A crown usually follows to protect the tooth, and that can be made and placed in this office.
Cost of an emergency root canal in Reseda
A front tooth with one canal and a molar with three or four are different amounts of work, so we don't quote a root canal without seeing the X-ray. The visit starts at $99 for the exam and X-rays for patients paying without insurance; the root canal, and the crown if one is needed, are quoted in writing before you commit to anything. PPO plans are accepted, and Cherry, CareCredit and Sunbit financing plus in-house payment plans are available. Details are on the cost and insurance page.
Root canal or extraction?
Both stop the pain. The difference is what's left afterward. A root canal keeps your own tooth in place, which keeps the neighbors from drifting and the bite from shifting. An extraction is simpler up front but usually means replacing the tooth later. Our dentists lay out both, with prices, and the choice is yours. Some teeth are too far gone to save, and if that's the case you'll hear it straight.
Why patients choose our Reseda office
Same-day appointments Monday through Friday, with evening times until 7:00 PM on Tuesday and Thursday for the toothache that turns unbearable after work. A phone answered by a real person 24/7. The root canal and the crown at one address, PPO plans accepted, parking on site.
Emergency root canal near you in Reseda
Our office is on Saticoy Street between White Oak Avenue and Balcom Avenue, about two miles south of Northridge Hospital Medical Center. That's 7 to 12 minutes from Northridge via Reseda Boulevard, 9 to 15 from Encino up Balboa Boulevard, and 10 to 20 from Van Nuys along Saticoy or Sherman Way.
Frequently asked questions
Does a root canal hurt?
The procedure itself shouldn't; the tooth is numbed completely, and the whole point is to remove the nerve that has been hurting you. Most people describe the relief as immediate. The tooth and the gum around it can be tender for a few days afterward, which ibuprofen or acetaminophen usually handles.
Can antibiotics fix the tooth instead?
Antibiotics can calm the infection for a while, but they can't reach the dead tissue inside the tooth, so the problem returns. If our dentist prescribes them, it's to get swelling under control before or alongside treatment, not as a substitute for it.
Will I need a crown afterward?
Usually, for a back tooth. A molar that has had a root canal is more brittle and takes a lot of chewing force, so a crown protects it from cracking. Front teeth sometimes get by with a filling. Our dentist tells you which applies to yours, with the price in writing, before the root canal begins.
What happens if I wait?
The infection doesn't stay put. Left alone it can form an abscess, spread into the jaw or face, and turn a saveable tooth into an extraction. If you already have swelling that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to an emergency room first and call us afterward.