“Dedicated to Enhancing Your Smile with Exceptional Care and Expertise”.
“Dedicated to Enhancing Your Smile with Exceptional Care and Expertise”.
“Dedicated to Enhancing Your Smile with Exceptional Care and Expertise”.
“Dedicated to Enhancing Your Smile with Exceptional Care and Expertise”.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Angela Leung, DDS – Last reviewed August 19, 2026
Up all night with throbbing pain, swelling, or a possible abscess—or dealing with a cracked tooth and worried about your oral health? Tap to call for an emergency evaluation today. Whether you were referred by your dentist, want to save your natural tooth, need help after a prior canal didn’t heal, suffered trauma, feel anxious about treatment, or you’re facing financial uncertainty, we’ll make the next step simple—clear answers and a plan you can act on fast.
At Angela Leung DDS PC – The Endodontics Implant Center in California, we provide endodontics at the highest level—advanced diagnosis, clear options, and coordinated care in one office. We welcome referrals, and we keep you informed at every step as a patient.
We aim to save a natural tooth when it can be restored safely. That may include endodontic treatment, or retreatment for a previously treated tooth. Root canal therapy can also be used when bacteria have reached the canal space and inflamed areas are affecting the root canals. The goal is a comfortable mouth and stable function. An endodontist will explain each option so the patient can choose the right path.
Many problems that feel like “canal issues” come from tooth decay, prior dental work, or injuries. In your visit, we check tooth structures, assess inflammation, and look for symptoms such as sensitive biting discomfort or a pimple on the gums. Sometimes patients describe unexplained pain, and we use imaging and testing to find the difference between a simple irritation and a deeper issue.
When needed, local anesthetic is used for comfort. If the pulp tissue is damaged, we clean and disinfect the root canals so infected material can be completely removed. This is a focused endodontic procedure designed to restore function and keep surrounding tissues healthy.
| Situation | Possible Care Path | Main Goal |
|---|---|---|
| First-time nerve infection | Root canal therapy | Save the tooth |
| Prior root canal has symptoms | Retreatment | Correct missed or re-infected anatomy |
| Infection remains near root tip | Apicoectomy | Treat infection surgically |
| Tooth is fractured or non-restorable | Extraction + implant planning | Replace safely |
Replacing missing teeth with durable artificial implants.
Specialized care for complex dental procedures.
Specialized dental care treating tooth pulp and roots.
Specialized care for gums and supporting structures.
Repairing teeth for function, health, aesthetics.
Enhance smiles with aesthetic and dental treatments.
Precise evaluation of bite alignment and jaw function.
Clear, precise guidance for safe and effective surgery.
If your referring dentist has already taken X-rays, we coordinate details so the patient doesn’t repeat steps. Endodontics is a specialty within dentistry, and endodontics planning often uses 3D imaging for complex anatomy in the canal system. Many of these principles are introduced in dental school, but our clinic applies endodontics protocols with specialized equipment.
Endodontics relies on detail. A microscope and 3D CBCT help us treat curved canals and evaluate a crack that doesn’t show on standard films. If a persistent infection persists near the end of the tooth, an endodontist may recommend a small apical procedure with minimal removal to achieve stability.
Trauma can affect nerves inside a tooth even when the outside looks fine. We treat these injuries early to reduce the chance of infection and protect the jawbone. Patients often feel reassured knowing endodontists specialize in diagnosing internal tooth problems and supporting long-term health—and helping relieve pain while saving what can be saved.
We’ll give you a written plan with costs before treatment begins, then help you choose a realistic path forward.
Common signs include lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting, swelling, tenderness, a gum bump that keeps coming back, deep decay, or pain after dental trauma. In some cases, an infected tooth may not hurt much at all, which is why X-rays and a proper exam matter.
Most people expect it to hurt more than it actually does. With modern local anesthesia and current endodontic techniques, root canal treatment is typically no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. In many cases, the procedure relieves the pain caused by the infection rather than creating it.
The tooth is numbed first. Then the damaged or infected pulp is removed, the canals are cleaned and shaped, and the inside of the tooth is disinfected and sealed. After that, the tooth usually needs a final restoration, often a crown, to protect it and restore function.
Retreatment may be recommended if a tooth that had a previous root canal still has pain, swelling, or signs of infection, or if the original treatment could not fully address complex canal anatomy. It can also be needed if a crown, filling, or fracture allowed bacteria back into the tooth.
An apicoectomy is a minor endodontic surgery that treats infection around the tip of the root when standard root canal treatment or retreatment is not enough. During the procedure, the inflamed tissue is removed, the end of the root is treated, and the area is sealed to help the tooth heal.
Angela Leung DDS PC – The Endodontics Implant Center
1131 Mission Road, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Phone: 415-681-2697
Hours: Monday–Friday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (Saturday & Sunday closed)
If you’re dealing with missing teeth, failing dental work, or full-mouth breakdown, the fastest relief is clarity.
