A root canal is a procedure where the nerve of a tooth is removed because of infection, pain, decay, fracture, or abscess on a tooth. The goal of root canal therapy is to preserve the tooth in order to avoid extraction and more costly replacement alternatives.
Root canals have been stigmatized by the fact that historically the procedure was done over a number of very painful appointments. However, it is now possible to do a root canal in less than an hour with virtually no pain or discomfort. Most root canals generally require a crown after completion.
As a second-generation dentist, Dr. Matiasevich was raised in Santa Cruz. He did his undergraduate work in economics at the University of California Irvine and attended the University of Southern California for his dental degree.