LETTERS FROM THE STUDIO
Root Canal Education & Tips
Plain-language letters from Dr. Phan's practice — what tooth pain means, what treatment involves, and when the honest answer is to do less.
The latest letter
NO. 28 — MAY 12, 2026
SPECIALIZED TREATMENT · 8 MIN READ
Tooth Resorption: Types, Causes, and What Treatment Looks Like
Internal and external tooth resorption explained — how they're diagnosed, when they're treatable, and what to do if you've been told you have it.
READ THE LETTER → A SPECIAL COLLECTION
Five impostors of tooth pain.
Not every toothache is a tooth. These five letters cover the pain that pretends — and how careful diagnosis prevents a root canal nobody needed.
IMPOSTOR NO. 1 The grinder Bruxism — clenching and grinding that feels exactly like an infected tooth. IMPOSTOR NO. 2 The muscle Myofascial trigger points in the jaw, referring pain into healthy teeth. IMPOSTOR NO. 3 The sinus Maxillary sinusitis pressing on upper roots — the most common impostor. IMPOSTOR NO. 4 The nerve Trigeminal neuralgia — intense facial pain often misread as dental. IMPOSTOR NO. 5 The virus Shingles along the trigeminal nerve, presenting as a toothache.
THE COMPLETE INDEX
Twenty-eight letters, and counting.
MAY 12, 2026 SPECIALIZED TREATMENT Tooth Resorption: Types, Causes, and What Treatment Looks Like 8 MIN → FEB 17, 2026 CRACKED TEETH Cracked Tooth: Crown, Root Canal, or Extraction? How We Decide 7 MIN → FEB 17, 2026 ROOT CANAL GentleWave vs. Traditional Root Canal: Is the Upgrade Worth It? 7 MIN → FEB 17, 2026 SURGERY & RETREATMENT Retreatment vs. Apicoectomy: Which Fixes a Failed Root Canal? 7 MIN → FEB 16, 2026 SURGERY & RETREATMENT Failed Root Canal: Should You Try Retreatment or Get an Implant? 7 MIN → FEB 16, 2026 ROOT CANAL Root Canal vs. Implant: Which Is the Better Investment for Your Tooth? 7 MIN → FEB 11, 2026 ROOT CANAL Persistent Pain After Root Canal: Causes, Evidence, and When Retreatment Is Needed 10 MIN → FEB 11, 2026 ROOT CANAL Why Does My Tooth Still Hurt After a Root Canal? 4 MIN → JUL 15, 2025 VITAL PULP Regenerative Endodontics: Growing Back What's Lost 7 MIN → JUL 1, 2025 ROOT CANAL What Is Internal Tooth Bleaching After a Root Canal? 5 MIN → JUN 15, 2025 VITAL PULP Vital Pulp Therapy: Saving Teeth Without a Full Root Canal 6 MIN → JUN 1, 2025 SURGERY & RETREATMENT Apicoectomy Explained: When Root Canal Isn't Enough 7 MIN → MAY 15, 2025 SURGERY & RETREATMENT Root Canal Retreatment: When Your First Root Canal Fails 7 MIN → MAY 2, 2025 CONSULTATION What Happens During an Endodontic Consultation 6 MIN → APR 18, 2025 EMERGENCY & ABSCESS Tooth Abscess Emergency: What to Do Before Your Appointment 6 MIN → APR 10, 2025 CRACKED TEETH Cracked Tooth Symptoms: When to See an Endodontist in Torrance 7 MIN → FEB 5, 2025 ROOT CANAL Root Canal Pain After Treatment: What's Normal and What's Not 6 MIN → FEB 1, 2025 ROOT CANAL Root Canal or Extraction: How to Decide What's Best for Your Tooth 7 MIN → JAN 30, 2025 PAIN DIAGNOSIS Bruxism Pain Mimicking Root Canal Pain: When Grinding Feels Like a Toothache 6 MIN → JAN 30, 2025 PAIN DIAGNOSIS Myofascial Pain Mimicking Root Canal Pain: When Jaw Muscles Cause Toothaches 7 MIN → JAN 30, 2025 PAIN DIAGNOSIS Sinus Pain Mimicking Root Canal Pain: How to Tell the Difference 7 MIN → JAN 30, 2025 PAIN DIAGNOSIS Trigeminal Neuralgia & Other Nerve Conditions Mimicking Root Canal Pain 8 MIN → JAN 28, 2025 ROOT CANAL Endodontist vs. Dentist for Root Canal: 95% vs. 85% Success Rate 6 MIN → JAN 25, 2025 ROOT CANAL How Much Does a Root Canal Cost Without Insurance? 6 MIN → JAN 20, 2025 PAIN DIAGNOSIS Shingles Presenting as Tooth Pain: What You Need to Know 7 MIN → JAN 17, 2025 ROOT CANAL Root Canal Recovery: What to Expect After Treatment 7 MIN → JAN 15, 2025 ROOT CANAL 7 Signs You Might Need a Root Canal 5 MIN → JAN 10, 2025 ROOT CANAL 5 Root Canal Myths Debunked by a Torrance Endodontist 6 MIN →
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