Endodontic Specialists Know the Right Treatments to Save Your Teeth
Endodontists treat the inside of the tooth, including pulp and nerves. If your dentist recommends that you get an endodontic treatment to fix your damaged tooth, you'll want to know what is going to happen inside your mouth. Your endodontist specialist should explain your treatment thoroughly, but you can do your own research as well. Take a look at these endodontic treatments and procedures.
Root Canal
When your tooth is infected or inflamed in the root area, you need to get a root canal treatment. This common procedure helps relieve the pain caused by the inflammation or infection, and it helps save your tooth. What does an endodontist do during a root canal treatment?
First, the pulp inside the tooth is removed.
Then, the root canals are cleaned, disinfected, and shaped.
When all is well inside the tooth, the endodontist seals the space with a filling.
Sometimes, your tooth will need a dental crown for further protection.
The root canal treatment is accomplished under anesthesia, so you won't feel the pain. If your damaged tooth does not receive the treatment it needs, it could create an abscess or cause tooth loss.
Endodontic Surgery (Apicoectomy)
For especially bad cases, a root canal may not be enough to save your tooth. Then, you may need an endodontic surgery called an apicoectomy. An endodontist will:
Make an incision in your gums.
Create an opening in the bone to expose the infected area of the tooth's root.
Remove the infected tissue.
Clean up the area.
Seal the root with a filling.
Stitch up the gum tissue.
The bone will heal on its own, and your dental pain should be eliminated.
Endodontic Retreatment
Hopefully, your root canal procedure will be successful. There are some cases when the root canal treatment doesn't correct every problem inside your tooth's root canals. Sometimes, the area gets a new infection. There is still some hope for saving your tooth. Your endodontist can perform an endodontic retreatment. During this second procedure, the endodontist will reopen the tooth, take out the fillings from the earlier procedure, and carefully clean out the new infection. Once again, the tooth is sealed with a filling and will probably need a dental crown for protection.
Traumatic Dental Injuries
When you get into an accident that results in tooth damage, you need an endodontist to examine your dental injuries. Sometimes, the injury is minor, such as a chipped tooth. Other times, your tooth may be split, dislodged, or completely knocked out. However severe, you need dental attention right away. If the pulp inside your tooth is exposed, you could be experiencing quite a bit of pain, and the endodontist will need to perform root canal treatment to clean and disinfect the root. Dislodged teeth will need to be stabilized, and you will probably also need a root canal treatment in a few days. The quicker you can get to an endodontist, the better your chances are of saving your injured teeth.
When to Get a Dental Implant
An endodontist specializes in saving teeth whenever possible. Tooth extraction should be a last resort. However, there are times when the damage is so severe that an endodontic treatment won't save the tooth. In those cases, your endodontist will recommend getting a dental implant after the injured tooth has been removed. The dental implant will keep your other teeth from shifting into the empty space, and it will help you chew your food properly. Learn more about reasons for getting a dental implant.
Diagnosing Dental Pain
Do you have dental pain that won't go away? Because there are so many nerves in your mouth and teeth, it can be tricky to find out what is causing the pain. The pain could be caused by an infection in one area and felt in a different area, such as in your neck or ear. Endodontists have the right skills and technology to find the cause of your pain, and then offer treatment options that will cure the pain.
Need an Endodontist to Care for Your Damaged Tooth?
Steelecroft Dental has the professional endodontic care you need. We will help you find the right treatment options. If you are in pain or you’ve just had a traumatic dental injury, don’t hesitate, please call us at (704) 753-8316 to schedule your appointment.