If your teeth need a root canal or similar treatments, your dentist may perform endodontic procedures. Every dentist, including general dentists, receive training on endodontic dentistry in school and can perform endodontic procedures. However, in some cases, a dentist may refer a patient to an endodontic dentist.
Endodontic procedures are ones that involve treating the inside of the tooth. A patient might need endodontic treatment if the pulp inside the tooth has become infected, damaged or inflamed. There are several reasons why the pulp inside the tooth may have become damaged:
A common type of endodontic procedure is a root canal. To perform a root canal, the dentist will first make a small hole in the tooth for access. The dentist will then remove the damaged or infected pulp. Next, the dentist will clean and decontaminate the area, shaping it for the filling. The filling consists of a rubbery material that will seal off the root canals. This procedure removes the nerves in the teeth so the patient will no longer feel any pain in that tooth.
While the tooth does not need pulp to function, it will no longer receive nourishment from the pulp. It must now receive nourishment from a ligament that connects it to the bone. Because it will not receive as much nourishment as before, it will become more brittle over time. A dentist will place a crown over the tooth to further protect it.
It generally takes some time for a crown to arrive. A patient should avoid eating on the tooth until the crown has been put into place.
The root canal is a very common dental procedure. However, a root canal is not the only procedure endodontic dentistry covers. In some cases, a patient may need surgery. One of the most commonly performed surgeries is apicoectomy. This surgery is also known as root-end resection, and it is used when a root canal is not enough to save the tooth.
An apicoectomy is generally needed after a root canal has not been successful. This happens when inflammation remains at the tips of the tooth. During an apicoectomy, an endodontic dentist will work to remove the infected tips of the tooth.
To perform the surgery, the dentist uses local anesthesia in the area. Next, the dentist makes an incision in the gumline close to the problematic tooth. If necessary, the dentist removes any infected or inflamed tissue. The dentist then removes the inflamed tip of the root of the tooth.
A root canal is a common dental procedure. It can be used to save a tooth that may otherwise need to be pulled. If it does not work, the tooth can still be saved through apicoectomy. Your dentist can give you more information on these and other endodontic procedures.
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