Why Getting the Right Diagnosis Changes Everything
Here’s something that might surprise you. About 30% of the patients who walk into our Torrance office for a second opinion on a recommended root canal don’t actually need one.
Let that sink in for a second.
That means roughly one out of every three people who were told “you need a root canal” had something else going on. A sinus infection. A cracked tooth. Muscle tension in the jaw. Sometimes even stress-related clenching they didn’t realize they were doing.
Dr. Jason Phan has seen it hundreds of times. A patient shows up worried, maybe even scared, because their dentist said they need a root canal. They sit down. He runs through the full evaluation. And then he gets to say something they didn’t expect: “Your tooth is actually fine. Here’s what’s really going on.”
That’s what a real endodontic consultation is about. Not rushing to treatment. Finding the actual problem first.
Don't Need a Root Canal
Teeth Evaluated
Minutes Per Consultation
A Story That Happens More Often Than You’d Think
A patient came in a few months ago from Redondo Beach. She’d been dealing with a dull ache in her upper left teeth for about six weeks. Her dentist took an X-ray, saw something near the root, and recommended a root canal on tooth #14.
She wasn’t sure. Something felt off about the recommendation. So she called our office for a second opinion.
Dr. Phan did the full workup. CBCT 3D scan. Cold testing. Bite testing. Percussion. Microscope exam. Every single test came back normal. The tooth was perfectly healthy.
So where was the pain coming from?
Turns out she’d been dealing with a low-grade sinus infection. The roots of upper back teeth sit right next to the sinus floor. When your sinuses get inflamed, it can feel exactly like a toothache. And on a flat 2D X-ray, sinus inflammation can look like an infection at the root tip.
She got a course of antibiotics from her doctor. Pain went away in a week. No root canal needed. Her tooth is still doing great.
That’s the difference between a general X-ray and a thorough endodontic consultation.
What Actually Happens During Your Consultation
People want to know what they’re walking into. Fair enough. Here’s exactly how Dr. Phan runs a consultation at our Torrance office, step by step.
Your History and Symptoms
Dr. Phan sits down and talks with you. When did the pain start? What makes it better or worse? Hot, cold, chewing? He asks questions most providers skip — like whether you've been stressed, clenching your jaw, or had recent sinus congestion. These details matter more than people realize.
CBCT 3D Scan
This is where we see what regular X-rays can't show. The CBCT takes a full three-dimensional image of your teeth, roots, bone, and surrounding structures. It takes about 20 seconds. You just stand still while the scanner rotates around your head. No discomfort at all.
Clinical Testing
Cold test with a refrigerant spray on your tooth. Bite test with a small stick. Percussion test — tapping gently on each tooth. These tests tell Dr. Phan whether the nerve inside your tooth is healthy, inflamed, or dead. Each test gives a different piece of the puzzle.
Microscope Examination
Dr. Phan examines the tooth under a surgical microscope at up to 25x magnification. Cracks that are invisible to the naked eye show up clearly. Hairline fractures, early decay under old fillings, gum tissue changes — the microscope catches things nothing else can.
Diagnosis and Game Plan
Dr. Phan walks you through everything he found. You'll see your 3D scan on the screen. He'll show you exactly what's going on and explain your options — whether that's a root canal, monitoring, a referral to another specialist, or sometimes nothing at all. No pressure. Just honest information so you can make a good decision.
The whole process takes about 45 to 60 minutes. It’s thorough on purpose. Rushing a diagnosis leads to wrong treatment, and wrong treatment leads to wasted money and more problems down the road.
What CBCT 3D Imaging Reveals That Regular X-Rays Miss
This is a big deal, and Dr. Phan feels pretty strongly about it.
A traditional dental X-ray gives you a flat, two-dimensional picture. It’s like looking at a shadow. You can see general shapes, but you’re missing a whole dimension of information. Structures overlap. Infections hide behind roots. Cracks are invisible.
A CBCT scan gives you a full 3D image. Dr. Phan can rotate it, slice through it, zoom in from any angle. He can see things that simply don’t show up on regular X-rays.
Hidden Canals
Many teeth have extra canals that don't appear on 2D X-rays. Upper molars often have a fourth canal (the MB2) that's missed over 40% of the time without 3D imaging. A missed canal means a failed root canal down the line.
Cracks and Fractures
Vertical root fractures are nearly impossible to spot on a regular X-ray. They're one of the most commonly misdiagnosed problems in dentistry. The CBCT shows fracture lines, their direction, and how far they extend.
Infections and Bone Loss
The exact size and location of an abscess. Whether it's touching the sinus. How much bone has been destroyed around the root. All visible in 3D. On a flat X-ray, infections can be hidden by overlapping bone.
Dr. Phan’s honest take: “I won’t treat a tooth I haven’t scanned in 3D. There are things I catch on CBCT every single week that would have been missed on a regular X-ray. A missed diagnosis doesn’t just mean wrong treatment — it can mean losing a tooth that could have been saved.”
When You Should Come in for a Consultation
Not every toothache means you need an endodontist. But there are specific situations where getting a specialist evaluation really does make a difference.
Signs You Should See an Endodontist
- Tooth pain that won't go away after 2+ weeks
- Your dentist recommends a root canal and you want a second opinion
- Pain that's hard to pinpoint — you can't tell which tooth it's coming from
- A previous root canal that's still giving you trouble
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers for more than a few seconds
- Pain that radiates to your ear, jaw, or temple
If you’re in Torrance, the South Bay, or anywhere nearby — Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, Gardena, Carson — and you’re dealing with any of these, it’s worth getting checked.
The Things That Aren’t Actually Tooth Problems
This is the part most dental offices skip. And honestly, it’s one of the most valuable things about an endodontic consultation.
Not all mouth pain comes from teeth. Dr. Phan checks for non-dental causes of tooth pain at every consultation, because treating the wrong thing helps nobody.
Sinus Problems
Sinus infections and inflammation can create pressure on upper tooth roots. This feels identical to a toothache. It's one of the most common reasons for unnecessary root canal recommendations. The CBCT scan shows sinus tissue clearly, so Dr. Phan can tell the difference right away.
TMJ and Muscle Pain
Jaw joint dysfunction and tight muscles can refer pain directly to your teeth. Patients swear a specific tooth is the problem, but all testing comes back normal. Dr. Phan checks jaw movement, muscle tenderness, and bite patterns to catch this.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
This nerve condition causes sharp, shooting pain in the face and jaw that can mimic a dying tooth. It's rare, but Dr. Phan has caught it multiple times in patients who were about to get root canals they didn't need. The treatment for neuralgia is completely different — usually medication, not dental work.
Stress and Clenching
People who grind or clench their teeth — especially at night — can develop pain that feels exactly like a tooth infection. The ligaments around the roots get bruised from constant pressure. These patients need a night guard or stress management, not a root canal.
Dr. Phan has a saying about this: “I’d rather tell you I can’t find a dental problem and send you to the right specialist than drill into a perfectly healthy tooth.”
The Second Opinion You Deserve
Let’s be real about something. Getting a second opinion doesn’t mean you don’t trust your dentist. It means you’re being smart about an irreversible procedure.
Once a tooth is drilled open for a root canal, you can’t undo that. The nerve is gone forever. The tooth needs a crown. You’re looking at thousands of dollars in treatment.
So if there’s any doubt — even a small one — a second opinion is just common sense.
What Dr. Phan Sees in Second Opinion Cases
Out of the patients who come in specifically for a second opinion:
- About 70% do need the root canal that was recommended — and Dr. Phan can perform it with advanced technology
- About 15% have a different dental problem — like a crack that means the tooth needs extraction instead, or a different tooth is the actual culprit
- About 15% don't have a dental problem at all — the pain is from sinuses, muscles, nerves, or something else entirely
Either way, you leave with a clear answer and a plan that actually makes sense for your situation.
Why an Endodontist’s Training Matters for Diagnosis
Here’s something most people don’t know. An endodontist goes through 2-3 years of specialty training after dental school, focused entirely on the inside of teeth. During that residency, they diagnose and treat thousands of cases — including the weird ones, the tricky ones, and the ones that don’t follow the textbook.
General dentists are good at what they do. But they see a huge range of problems every day — fillings, cleanings, crowns, gum issues, cosmetic work. They might do 1-2 root canals a week.
Dr. Phan does 25+ a week. He’s evaluated over 5,000 teeth. He’s seen patterns and presentations that most providers simply haven’t encountered enough times to recognize quickly.
| Diagnostic Factor | General Dentist | Endodontist (Dr. Phan) |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Focus | Broad — all dental issues | Specialized — tooth pain and internal tooth problems |
| Imaging Available | 2D X-rays (usually) | CBCT 3D imaging in-house |
| Magnification | Naked eye or loupes (2-4x) | Surgical microscope (up to 25x) |
| Difficult Pain Cases | Sometimes referred out | This is what we do every day |
| Non-Dental Pain Sources | May not screen for these | Checks sinus, TMJ, neuralgia, muscle, and referred pain |
This isn’t a knock on general dentists. They’re often the ones who refer patients to us specifically because they want a more detailed evaluation. The best dentists in the South Bay know when a case needs a specialist’s eye, and they send their patients here for exactly that reason.
What to Bring to Your Consultation
A little preparation makes your appointment more productive. Here’s what helps.
Your Consultation Checklist
- Any X-rays or referral notes from your dentist (digital copies are fine — they can email them to us ahead of time)
- A list of medications you're currently taking
- Your dental insurance card — we'll verify your benefits before you arrive if possible
- Notes about your symptoms — when the pain started, what triggers it, how long it lasts
- Questions you want answered — write them down so you don't forget in the moment
- Medical history updates — recent surgeries, new conditions, or allergies
Don’t stress if you don’t have everything. We take our own CBCT scan regardless, and Dr. Phan does a full evaluation from scratch. But having your dentist’s notes and X-rays gives additional context that can speed things up.
From Consultation to Treatment Plan
After your evaluation, you’ll know exactly where things stand. Dr. Phan gives you a clear diagnosis, explains what he found, and lays out your options. No jargon. No vague answers.
If you do need treatment, here’s how it works from there:
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If you need a root canal — we can often schedule it the same day or within a few days. Many patients prefer to get it handled right away while they’re already here. Dr. Phan performs the procedure using the surgical microscope, CBCT guidance, and advanced technology that gives the best possible outcome.
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If you need retreatment — meaning a previous root canal didn’t work — Dr. Phan will explain why the first one failed and what he’ll do differently. Sometimes it’s a missed canal. Sometimes it’s a new infection. The 3D scan shows exactly what happened.
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If it’s not a tooth problem — Dr. Phan will tell you what he thinks it is and point you toward the right specialist. Sinus issue? See your ENT. TMJ? An oral surgeon or physical therapist. Neuralgia? A neurologist. He doesn’t just say “it’s not dental” and send you away — he gives you a direction.
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If the tooth can’t be saved — sometimes a crack extends too far, or the bone loss is too severe. Dr. Phan will be straight with you about it. He’ll explain why extraction is the better option and coordinate with your dentist for an implant or bridge.
No Referral Needed — Book Directly
A lot of patients in Torrance and the South Bay don’t realize this, but you don’t need a referral from your dentist to see an endodontist. You can call us directly and schedule a consultation on your own.
Many of our patients come to us without a referral. They’re dealing with tooth pain their dentist hasn’t been able to figure out. Or they got a treatment recommendation and want another set of eyes on it before moving forward. Both are perfectly good reasons to come in.
Scheduling Your Consultation
Our Torrance office sees consultation patients quickly — usually within a few days. Emergency cases get same-day priority.
Typical cost with CBCT
Thorough evaluation
Book directly
Getting It Right the First Time
Dr. Phan says this to patients all the time: “The most expensive treatment in dentistry is the one you didn’t need.”
A 45-minute consultation with 3D imaging costs a fraction of what a root canal costs. And it can save you from a procedure you might not need. Or confirm that you do need it — and give you confidence that it’s the right call.
Either way, you walk out of here knowing what’s going on. Not guessing. Not wondering. Actually knowing.
If you’re in Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, Carson, Gardena, or anywhere in the South Bay — and you’ve got tooth pain that isn’t going away or a recommendation you’re not sure about — come see us. Dr. Phan will give you straight answers and a real plan.
Schedule your endodontic consultation today. Call our Torrance office or book online.
