Root canals remain among the most feared procedures in dentistry for the average patient. But at Foundation Dental Specialists in Pasadena, a practice combining periodontics and endodontics, their focus is on debunking persistent myths around pain and illness—and saving natural teeth in the process.
The practice relies on technologies that have transformed outcomes: cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, microscopes and laser therapy. These tools allow specialists to increase precision and survival rates.
Root canal procedures, once feared for discomfort, now often involve single-visit treatments, advanced anesthesia, and rubber dam isolation, resulting in high success rates and greatly reduced post-treatment pain.
The numbers bear this out. Studies highlight that properly restored root canal-treated teeth have survival rates up to 97 percent at ten years, with many lasting decades. Modern microsurgery techniques now boast more than a 90 percent success rate, compared to 59 percent for traditional surgeries. For complex cases, the care team follows a staged protocol: endodontic treatment first, then a waiting period to monitor healing, followed by indicated periodontal therapy and ongoing maintenance. This collaborative approach facilitates precise management of cases that previously might have required extraction.
Dr. Rebecca Weightman, owner and board-certified periodontist, emphasizes that every decision at the practice is guided by what is best for the patient’s long-term health and comfort. Board-certified endodontists Dr. Nerisa Limansubroto and Dr. Laurel Martinez share this philosophy, focusing on preserving patients’ natural teeth whenever possible. With ongoing advances in technology and techniques, many teeth that were once thought to be unsalvageable can now be successfully saved.
The practice has fostered strong patient trust and loyalty, resulting in numerous returning patients and positive referrals, which has led more patients in Pasadena to seek specialist care and experience high satisfaction with root canal therapy.
Foundation Dental Specialists is located at 747 Locust St., Suite 200, Pasadena. Find out more by calling (626) 796-5361 or emailing info@foundationdentalspecialists.com.
