Specialized Treatments
Our practice is dedicated exclusively to endodontic care. We utilize state-of-the-art technology, including operating microscopes and 3D imaging, to provide precise and comfortable treatment.
Root Canal Treatment
When the soft inner tissue of a tooth (the pulp) becomes inflamed or infected, a root canal is necessary to save the tooth and alleviate pain.
What the procedure involves:
- 1Removes inflamed or infected pulp
- 2Carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal
- 3Fills and seals the space to prevent re-infection
- 4Allows you to keep your natural tooth for a lifetime
Endodontic Retreatment
Occasionally, a tooth that has received treatment may fail to heal or pain may continue. Retreatment gives the tooth a second chance.
What the procedure involves:
- 1Reopening the tooth to gain access to root canal anatomy
- 2Removal of previous restorative materials
- 3Careful examination with a dental microscope to find hidden canals
- 4Cleaning, shaping, and sealing the canal pathways again
Apicoectomy (Endodontic Surgery)
Sometimes, standard root canal treatment is not enough to heal the tooth. An apicoectomy is a microsurgical procedure to remove the infected root tip.
What the procedure involves:
- 1Incision made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and infected tissue
- 2Removal of the damaged tissue along with the end of the root tip
- 3A root-end filling is placed to prevent reinfection
- 4Advanced microsurgical techniques ensure precise healing
Cracked Tooth Treatment
Cracked teeth can present a variety of symptoms, including erratic pain when chewing or temperature sensitivity.
What the procedure involves:
- 1Microscopic diagnosis to determine the extent of the crack
- 2Treatment depends on the type, location, and severity of the crack
- 3Early intervention is critical to save the tooth
- 4We specialize in identifying complex fractures that standard X-rays miss
Dental Trauma Treatment
Traumatic dental injuries often occur as a result of an accident or sports injury. We are experts in treating and saving traumatized teeth.
What the procedure involves:
- 1Treatment for dislodged (luxated) teeth
- 2Replantation of knocked-out (avulsed) teeth
- 3Specialized techniques for treating dental trauma in children
- 4Long-term monitoring to ensure the tooth remains healthy
In-depth treatment guides
Conditions that lead to these treatments
Most patients arrive with a symptom rather than a diagnosis. The condition guides below explain what the diagnosis means, how Dr. Kung confirms it, and which of the treatments above is typically used.
Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth is a fracture that begins on the chewing surface of a tooth and runs vertically toward the root. Most cracks are too narrow to see on a regular X-ray, but they let bacteria reach the dental pulp and irritate the surrounding ligament — producing a very recognizable pattern of symptoms.
Pulp Necrosis (Dead Tooth Nerve)
Pulp necrosis means the soft tissue inside a tooth — the pulp, made up of nerves, blood vessels, and immune cells — has lost its blood supply and died. A necrotic tooth no longer feels temperature, but the bacteria left behind can leak out the root tip and infect the surrounding bone.
Irreversible Pulpitis (The Toothache That Won't Stop)
Irreversible pulpitis is the stage of pulp inflammation past which the tissue can no longer recover, even if the irritant (a deep cavity, a leaking crown, a fractured filling) is removed. It almost always progresses to pulp necrosis if untreated, and it produces a pain pattern that is so distinctive it is one of the most reliable diagnoses in dentistry.
Dental Abscess (Periapical Abscess)
A dental abscess is a localized collection of pus that forms at the tip of a tooth's root when bacteria from a necrotic pulp escape into the surrounding bone. The body's immune system mounts a powerful response, and the pressure produces some of the most severe pain in clinical medicine.
Root Resorption (Internal & External)
Root resorption is the dissolving away of root structure by specialized cells called odontoclasts. Internal resorption begins inside the root canal; external resorption begins on the outer surface of the root. Both are usually painless in the early stages and most often discovered incidentally on routine X-rays.
External Root Resorption
External root resorption is the breakdown of root structure that begins on the outer surface of the root and works inward. It is driven by specialized cells called odontoclasts that have been stimulated to attack the cementum and dentin from the outside. Most early-stage external resorption is painless and discovered incidentally on a routine X-ray — by the time symptoms appear, a significant amount of root has often already been lost.
Internal Root Resorption
Internal root resorption is the loss of dentin from inside the root canal, caused by odontoclast cells activated within an inflamed but still partly vital pulp. Unlike external resorption (which works inward from the outside), internal resorption widens the canal from inside out — producing a characteristic ballooned or oval-shaped enlargement of the canal on imaging. It is much less common than external resorption but is more often saved when caught before perforation.
Horizontal Root Fracture
A horizontal (transverse) root fracture is a clean break that runs across the root of a tooth rather than down its length. It is almost always caused by a sudden blow — a fall, a sports impact, or a vehicle accident — and most often affects the upper front teeth in patients under 30. Unlike a vertical root fracture (which usually means the tooth must be extracted), a horizontal fracture can frequently be saved if it is diagnosed and stabilized within the first few days.
Why see a specialist endodontist?
Endodontists complete two to three additional years of training after dental school, focused exclusively on diagnosing tooth pain and saving teeth. Published outcomes data show that molar root canals performed by specialists have higher success rates than the same procedure performed in general practice — a difference driven by magnification, 3D imaging, and case volume.
2–3 extra years of training
Accredited endodontic residency beyond dental school, with thousands of supervised cases.
Surgical operating microscope
Every procedure performed under high-magnification Zeiss OPMI optics for canals invisible to the naked eye.
CBCT 3D imaging
Cone-beam CT for complex anatomy, missed canals, cracks, and surgical planning.
All Conditions We Treat
Patient-friendly guides to cracked teeth, irreversible pulpitis, pulp necrosis, dental abscess, and root resorption.
Insurance & Billing
Out-of-network PPO coverage, carrier-specific guides, CareCredit, HSA/FSA, and transparent pricing.
Specialist endodontic care — serving 30+ Bay Area cities
Dr. Jason Kung provides specialist endodontic care to patients across Silicon Valley from our Sunnyvale office. Evening and weekend hours, same-day emergencies, free on-site parking.