Patient articles
Straight answers to the questions patients ask us most, each one grounded in published research and reviewed by Dr. Hirose.
- Antibiotics for a Tooth Infection: Why They Are Rarely the Fix The American Dental Association recommends against antibiotics for most toothaches and tooth infections. Why, when they are needed, and what actually works.
- Does a Root Canal Hurt? What Research on Real Patients Shows Most root canal pain comes before treatment, not after. What a review of 72 studies shows about pain before, during and after, and how we keep you comfortable.
- Do You Need a Crown After a Root Canal? And How Soon? Back teeth usually need a crown after a root canal, and timing matters. What the research shows about crowns, delays, and protecting the tooth meanwhile.
- What a Microscope Changes in a Root Canal Upper molars often hide an extra canal that is easy to miss without magnification. What the research shows about microscopes, missed canals and healing.
- How Long Does a Root Canal Last? What Studies of Real Patients Show Most root canal-treated teeth last for many years. What large studies show about survival, which factors matter most, and what you can do to help.
- Root Canal or Extraction and Implant? What the Research Shows Save the tooth or pull it and place an implant? What long-term studies say about how long each lasts, what each involves, and how to decide.
- Toothache Relief That Works While You Wait to Be Seen What the American Dental Association's 2024 guideline says about the best over-the-counter relief for a toothache, what to avoid, and when to call right away.
- When a Root Canal Fails: Retreatment, Microsurgery or Extraction A treated tooth that hurts again can often still be saved. Why root canals fail, what retreatment and microsurgery offer, and how the research compares them.
Relief starts with a call
Call the office closest to you. If you are in pain, say so when you call, and the team will look for the soonest opening at either office.
Request an appointment-
Mountain View
100 West El Camino Real, Unit 67
-
Saratoga
18988 Cox Avenue, Suite D