Kingstone Chichung Shih DDS

Endodontist | Endodontics

505 South Drive Suite 10 Mountain View CA, 94040 Show map

About
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About

Dr. Kingstone Shih received his BA in biological science from UC Berkeley, his DDS from UC San Francisco School of Dentistry, and his certificate of endodontics from Temple University. He is a past president of the Mid-Peninsula Dental Society, and taught at the UC San Francisco School of Dentistry.

Education and Training

University of California, San Francisco DDS 1994

Temple University School of Dental Medicine Certificate in Endodontics 1996

Provider Details

Male Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian

Kingstone Chichung Shih DDS

Kingstone Chichung Shih DDS's Expert Contributions

My Answers

How is a tooth abscess treated?
If a tooth is salvageable, the best way to treat an abscessed tooth is to do a root canal. Otherwise, the only other way to get the abscess out is to extract the entire tooth. READ MORE
Why am I feeling numb around where I had a root canal?
Sometimes the area around where you had a root canal can feel numb for a period of time due to profound administration of local anesthesia. The anesthesia usually wears off within a few hours to a couple of days. If the numbness lasts longer than that, it is possible that there is either temporary or permanent damage to the nerves. READ MORE
How long will I have to be on painkillers after a root canal?
It's not unusual for your tooth to be a little tender or sore to pressure for a few days after a root canal. Most of the time, it is manageable and taking pain medication is optional. If you have a lower pain threshold, you can take over the counter pain medications as needed. Your dentist will prescribe stronger prescription strength pain medication only if they are necessary. READ MORE
What kind of foods should I avoid after a root canal surgery?
You should avoid anything hard or sticky after a root canal, and more importantly, you do most of your heavy chewing on the opposite side of where you had the root canal. READ MORE
I have had a second root canal on the same tooth. Why?
A second root canal, otherwise known as a retreatment, may be necessary for a variety of reasons. It is possible that the root canal was not completely cleaned out during the first treatment, it could have gotten reinfected or recontaminated, there could be extra nerves that were treated the first time, or your dentist may have seen something on the xray that would indicated that it needs to be redone. READ MORE
I have tooth loss at the age of 34. Is it normal?
34 is a little younger than the average age for losing a tooth, but it can happen to people of any age, even much younger. What is more important to focus on is to figure out why the tooth fell out and to prevent it from happening to other teeth. READ MORE
I had three of my crooked teeth extracted and they won't stop bleeding. What should I do?
It is not normal to have bleeding that won't stop after a tooth extraction. You should report this to your dentist immediately, and if it is after hours, you should call your dentist's emergency contact phone number. If you are unable to reach their office, you should go to the emergency room. READ MORE
Why do I feel sensitivity even after a root canal?
It is not unusual for a tooth to be a little sensitive to chewing or pressure for a few days after a root canal. This is usually due to the pressure, grinding and vibration of the procedure itself. It is normal that the ligaments around the tooth an get temporarily injured and this may last a few days. If the symptoms last more than a couple of weeks, you should contact your dentist and let them know. READ MORE
Root canal on a baby tooth?
A root canal can be done on a baby tooth in order to maintain the space until the permanent adult tooth is ready to erupt. If a baby tooth is extracted before the adult too erupts, the adjacent teeth can drift into the empty space and due to overcrowding, there may not be enough space for the permanent adult tooth. READ MORE
Does a dental filling require anesthesia?
Local anesthesia is usually necessary when having a cavity filled, to ensure a comfortable procedure. There are some patients that prefer to have dental procedures without local anesthesia, but it is usually not recommended. READ MORE
Will I experience any pain after the root canal?
It is normal for the tooth to be a little tender to pressure for two to three days after the root canal. You should avoid chewing on anything hard on the tooth until the tooth has been fully restored with a permanent filling or a crown. READ MORE
The tooth where I need a root canal isn't bothering me. Why do I need it?
It is possible for a tooth that needs a root canal to be asymptomatic. Pain or discomfort is not the only criteria that determines whether you need a root canal or not. Sometimes the nerve inside the tooth is already dead, or your body's immune system may have walled off an infection, or the tooth, even though it is in an unhealthy state, does not have any particular feeling. Your dentist or endodontist should take appropriate xrays and perform pulp testing in order to determine if your tooth needs a root canal. READ MORE
Are the effects of a root canal short-term?
It is true that you may feel slight pain or discomfort after the root canal, but if the procedure is successful, that should go away in a few days. What is not necessarily true is that the benefits of the treatment are only temporary. If the root canal is successful, the remaining tooth structure is properly restored afterward, and you take good care of the tooth, there is no reason why your tooth can't last for many years, sometimes even the rest of your life. READ MORE
When should I follow up with my dentist after my root canal?
In my endodontic office, we ask our patients to return 6 months after completion of treatment for a follow up check up appointment. If everything looks good, they don't need to come back, but if we find something that needs to be followed, we may ask them to come back again in another 6 months to a year. READ MORE
Should I stay away from certain foods after a root canal?
Most of the time after a root canal, you can eat almost anything you want. However, you should avoid chewing anything hard on the tooth that had the root canal for at least 2-3 days immediately after the procedure, and if the tooth still needs a permanent filling or a crown, you should wait until you get that procedure to resume normal chewing on that tooth. READ MORE
What medications are prescribed after a root canal?
It is not unusual for your dentist to prescribe antibiotics or pain medication after a root canal. It is not always necessary, but if there was infection inside of the tooth, and even though it was removed during the root canal, taking a course of antibiotics can help to accelerate the healing process. As far as pain medication, sometimes the tooth can feel sore after the procedure, and a prescription for pain medication can help control the discomfort. READ MORE
Is tooth sensitivity a sign of decay?
Tooth sensitivity is one possible symptom of tooth decay, but it is not the only possible explanation. Other possible causes of tooth sensitivity include gum recession, a cracked tooth or filling, a loose filling or crown, a filling or crown that has fallen out, to name a few. If the tooth sensitivity does not go away on its own, you should make an appointment with your dentist for a thorough examination and X-rays to determine the exact cause and then appropriate treatment to alleviate your symptoms. READ MORE
Does an anesthesia injection in the mouth cause pain?
The injection of local anesthetic is not painless, but the amount of pain can be limited by applying a topical anesthetic to the injection site, and also if the dentist injects slowly. The injection site may also feel a little sore for a day or so after the procedure, but it will eventually go away. READ MORE
Is a broken tooth a dental emergency?
When a tooth is subjected to a blunt force, traumatic injury, such as getting hit with a hockey puck, it is possible that the tooth could have been injured. First, the structure of the tooth or tooth root can be damaged, the nerve in the tooth can be injured, and the gums and supporting bone and soft tissue can also be injured. The only way to know is to visit a dentist and have a detailed examination and take appropriate X-rays. If the nerve was damaged, it is possible your husband may need a root canal. READ MORE
I have had 6 root canals in the past. I need another one now. Why is this?
A root canal is necessary when the nerve in your tooth gets damaged, most frequently as a result of decay, cracking of the teeth or fillings, trauma, deep or failing dental restorations, periodontal disease, or traumatic occlusion. Without knowing the exact cause of your most recent root canal, and also the cause of your past root canals, it is impossible to answer your question as to why this is happening. A review of your past dental records may reveal why you needed root canals in the past, and moving forward, you should practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for regular and preventative maintenance and necessary care to guard you as best as possible against a need for future root canals. READ MORE