What is Endodontics?
Endodontic Treatment
A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed. This simple treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need for dental implants or bridges.
At the center of your tooth is pulp. Pulp is a collection of nerves and blood vessels that help build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the infection can be identified as visible injury or swelling of the tooth, sensitivity to temperature or tapping on the tooth, or pain in the tooth or gums.
Endodontic Retreatment
With the appropriate care, teeth that have had endodontic treatment can last as long as other natural teeth. Yet, a tooth that has received treatment may have difficulty healing, or new infection can arise. Some teeth may have persistent pain or new pain may arise. In these cases, Endodontic Retreatment may be needed.
Once retreatment has been selected as the best treatment approach, the doctor will reopen your tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material and remove it. This will allow for careful examination of the root canal and adequate disinfection of the tooth. The tooth will then be filled up and sealed just as it would be during initial root canal therapy.
Endodontic Microsurgery
Generally, a root canal is all that is needed to save teeth with injured or inflamed pulp from extraction. Occasionally, this non-surgical procedure will not be sufficient for the tooth to heal and a surgical approach will be recommended. Endodontic microsurgery (also known as an apicoectomy) can be used to locate fractures or treat hidden canals that do not appear with digital imaging but still manifest pain in the tooth.
Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth can provoke various symptoms, including chewing pain and temperature sensitivities. It is also common for pain to come and go, making it difficult to diagnose the cause of discomfort.
Chewing can cause movement of the cracked tooth structure, and the pulp within the tooth becomes irritated. At the same time, when biting pressure is released, the crack can close quickly, resulting in sharp pain.
Thankfully, not all cracked teeth need to be extracted. Some require a crown, or root canal therapy, or both.