Treatments Provided by a Root Canal Specialist
Stop by our clinic if you are dealing with any of the following:
- An infected tooth
- A badly damaged tooth
- A failed root canal
- A knocked-out tooth
- Abnormal mouth structures
- A toothache that is difficult to diagnose
- A toothache caused by inflamed pulp
We offer a variety of treatment options to help with these issues, including:
1. Root Canal
Root canal specialists spend most of their workdays performing root canals. This procedure involves cleaning out the pulp chamber, which contains nerves and soft tissues of a compromised tooth. The Endodontist might administer a shot of anesthetic prior to the treatment.
Root canals help to bring toothaches and infections to an end. Once the procedure is over, the Endodontist will fit the treated tooth with a dental crown to protect it from further damage. WebMD states that about 95 percent of root canal treatments are successful. Root canals can help to treat infected, fractured/broken, and badly decayed teeth.
2. Endodontic Retreatment
Treating teeth with a root canal can help to preserve as much of the natural teeth as possible. Following a root canal, the patient can continue to keep the teeth healthy with proper oral hygiene. In some rare instances, a tooth that treated with a root canal might become infected or cause toothaches months or years down the road.
A root canal specialist provides retreatment to help save such teeth. Performing this procedure can help to alleviate any pain from the damaged tooth and promote proper healing. Reasons for needing retreatment for a tooth that already received a root canal include:
- Complicated canal anatomy was not addressed during the first procedure
- The restoration placed on the tooth failed to prevent saliva from reaching the tooth
- A crown was not placed on the tooth after a root canal
- Curved or narrow canals were not detected and treated during the initial procedure
During endodontic retreatment, we will reopen the affected tooth and extract any filling materials that were used to seal it up after the first treatment. We will then examine the tooth, looking for a new infection or canals.
We will treat any infections we find before resealing the tooth. Multiple visits to the Endodontist might be required if the tooth is severely infected. A crown will help to protect the tooth once the treatments are over.
3. Endodontic Surgery
The American Association of Endodontists explains that at times, root canal is not enough to save a compromised tooth. For such patients, a root canal specialist might recommend endodontic surgery to:
- Locate hidden canals that X-ray scans missed during the first root canal
- Pinpoint small fractures
- Extract calcium deposits inside the pulp chamber
- Treat damaged bone structures surrounding the tooth
- Fix worn down root surfaces
Endodontic surgery is performed using the latest in dental technology like operating microscopes and digital imaging.