An infected tooth nerve is why you're awake at 3 AM with pain that ibuprofen barely touches. A root canal removes that infected nerve and keeps the tooth. Call (424) 722-6124 and our Los Angeles dentists will see you the same day, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and can usually start treatment at that first visit.
The $89 covers the emergency exam and diagnostic X-rays. Treatment is priced separately and quoted to you in writing before any work starts.
Same-day appointments · $89 exam + X-rays · Phones answered 24/7 · Se habla español
Signs you may need a root canal today
The nerve inside a tooth doesn't get infected quietly. The usual tells:
- Deep, throbbing pain that's worse at night or when you lie down
- A tooth that overreacts to heat, and the pain hangs on for minutes
- Pain when you bite down on that one tooth
- A pimple-like bump on the gum near the tooth, sometimes with a bad taste
- A tooth that's turned gray or dark compared to its neighbors
Left alone, an infected nerve doesn't heal. It either becomes a full abscess or the pain fades because the nerve has died, which sounds like relief and isn't. The infection continues either way.
What happens at your same-day visit
First, the $89 exam and X-rays, because "root canal" is a diagnosis you confirm on an image, not a guess. If the nerve is infected, the dentist explains the finding, quotes the treatment in writing, and with your go-ahead gets started.
The tooth is numbed completely. The dentist makes a small opening, removes the infected nerve tissue, cleans and disinfects the canals, and seals them. Most patients say the procedure feels like a long filling: tedious, not painful. The relief, on the other hand, tends to be fast, since the pressure that was causing the pain is gone. Sedation options are available if dental anxiety is part of the picture; say so when you call.
Depending on the tooth, you may need a crown afterward to protect it. The permanent crown is made and placed here too, so the whole job stays in one office.
Cost of an emergency root canal in Los Angeles
Root canal pricing varies with the tooth: a front tooth has one canal, a molar has three or four. So the honest sequence is exam and X-rays for $89, then a written price for your specific tooth before treatment starts. We accept most major PPO plans, and financing options are available. The full picture is on our cost and insurance page.
Why patients choose our Los Angeles office
You get seen the same day, the diagnosis comes with the X-ray on the screen in front of you, and the price arrives in writing before the work begins. The office runs Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM with a phone that's answered 24/7, sits one signal off the 405 at Sepulveda and National, and has free parking at the door.
Emergency root canal near you in Los Angeles
From Culver City we're ten to fifteen minutes up Sepulveda; from Mar Vista about ten via Venice Blvd; from Westwood ten to twenty coming down Sepulveda or Westwood Blvd. The E Line's Expo/Sepulveda station is a half mile north if you're coming by train.
Frequently asked questions
Do root canals hurt as much as people say?
The procedure's reputation is decades out of date. With modern anesthetic, most patients feel pressure and vibration, not pain, and many doze off in the chair. What actually hurts is the infected nerve before treatment. The root canal is what makes that pain stop.
Root canal or extraction: how do I choose?
The dentist gives you an honest read on whether the tooth is worth saving. A root canal keeps your own tooth, which is usually the better long-term outcome when the tooth structure is sound. When it isn't, an extraction is the cleaner choice. You'll get the reasoning and the prices for both, in writing.
Can you finish the root canal in one visit?
Often, yes. Some infections need medication sealed inside the tooth for a week or two before the canals are filled, which means a second, shorter visit. The dentist tells you which kind yours is once the X-rays are up. Either way, the pain relief comes from the first visit.
What if I do nothing?
The infection at the root tip keeps working. Weeks or months later it can flare into an abscess with facial swelling, at which point the tooth is harder to save and the visit is more urgent. If money is the hesitation, call (424) 722-6124 and ask about financing options before deciding to wait.