Endodontics

Endodontics is the specialty of treating infected or dead pulp inside the tooth. This also includes assessment and treatment of the nerves within the tooth. If the soft tissue inside the tooth becomes infected or is decaying, endodontic treatments such as a Root Canal and Root amputation may be necessary.

Call us today to learn more about Endodontics and if this course of action is necessary for you.

Services

Cracked Teeth Treatment

Cracked teeth have many types of symptoms, including pain while chewing, sensitivity to hot and cold, or even the release of biting pressure. It is also common for pain be inconsistent and not constant, making it harder to diagnose the cause of discomfort.

Chewing causes movement of the cracked pieces of your tooth, and the pulp inside the tooth becomes irritated. At the same time, when biting pressure is released, the crack can close quickly, resulting in sharp pain. Eventually, the pulp will get damaged and the tooth will be in constant pain, even when the jaw is relaxed. It is possible that cracks can lead to infection of the soft tissue within the tooth, which has the potential to affect the bone and gum surrounding the problem area.

Types of Cracks

Craze lines – These are tiny cracks that only affect the outer enamel of the tooth. These cracks are more common in adults. These types of cracks are superficial and are usually of no concern.

Fractured Cusp – When a cusp becomes weakened, a fracture may result. The cusp may break off or be removed by a dentist. A fractured cusp rarely damages the pulp, so a root canal is not necessary.

Your dentist will usually restore the tooth with a full crown.

Cracked Tooth – This type of crack extends from the chewing surface of the tooth and vertically migrates towards the root. In some cases, the crack may extend below the gum line. It is possible for the crack to extend further into the root. Damage to the pulp is commonplace. In this case, root canal treatment is usually necessary. A cracked tooth that is not treated will worsen, resulting in the loss of the tooth. Therefore, early detection is essential.

Split Tooth – A split tooth is usually the result of an untreated cracked tooth. It can be identified by a crack with distinct segments. This type of tooth can never be saved intact. Yet, the position and extent of the problem will dictate whether any portion of the tooth can be saved.

Vertical Root Fracture – A vertical root fracture begins at the root and extends towards the chewing surface of the tooth. Unfortunately, they show minimal symptoms and may go unnoticed. Treatment involves endodontic surgery if a portion of the tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured root. Otherwise the tooth will have to be extracted.

Root Canal Treatment

If the nerve within one of your teeth becomes infected, root canal (endodontic)  treatment can keep you from losing the tooth, while treating the infection before it causes major health complications.

An infected (abscessed) tooth causes discomfort in the form of swelling and toothache. It can also cause severe health complications, because the bacteria from the infection can enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body.

One way to treat the infection is to remove the tooth and disinfect the area. However, tooth loss creates a gap between surrounding teeth that often necessitates a dental implant or bridge. It is always preferable to save a tooth, if possible, through root canal treatment.

A root canal should be no more uncomfortable than having a cavity filled, though the procedure is more complex. A root canal is the removal of infected or dead pulp (the inner nerves and blood vessels) from inside a tooth, and the subsequent filling and sealing of the resulting space.

Your dentist will begin the treatment by applying local anesthesia and isolating the area with a rubber dam. Then your dentist will drill an opening in the tooth to access the infected pulp. From there, he will remove the pulp and clean the area with specialized tools. Your dentist will fill the root space with a filling material. Finally he will seal the surface of the tooth with a crown to prevent further infection, and restore the function and appearance of the tooth.

The root canal treatment is typically performed in one visit. A second visit may be required to complete the crown restoration.