Our Services
Endodontics | Root Canal Treatment
Procedure: Full porcelain coverage (Crowns) of fractured
teeth with old, discolored bondings.
Patient: Deanna L. | Coral Springs, Florida
Testimonial: "My boyfriend referred me to Dr. Salee to improve my smile. I was too embarrassed to smile whenever I would have my picture taken. Never again."
teeth with old, discolored bondings.
Patient: Deanna L. | Coral Springs, Florida
Testimonial: "My boyfriend referred me to Dr. Salee to improve my smile. I was too embarrassed to smile whenever I would have my picture taken. Never again."
If a cavity forms and is allowed to go untrated for too long, it can penetrate to the root pulp where an infection can occur.
The Facts About Root Canal Treatment
Why Root Canal Treatment?If you have been told that a root canal is necessary to save one of your teeth, it is important that you understand why this procedure is necessary and what happens during root canal treatment. Root canal treatment (endodontics) treats disorders of the nerve (also called the pulp) of the tooth. It used to be that a tooth with a diseased or infected nerve had to be removed. In 95% of the cases today, however, this is no longer true. We believe in saving teeth instead of removing them. We make every effort to help you keep your natural teeth for a lifetime!
What Makes a Root Canal Necessary?
The following are the most common factors contributing to a need for root canal treatment:
- Infection caused by deep decay or a very large filling
- Severe gum disease
- Trauma, such as a physical blow to a tooth or a constant striking of a tooth in the opposite jaw that traumatizes the tooth
Either way, eventually the bacteria can destroy the pulp. As this happens, the bone surrounding the tooth may become infected and abscessed, which may lead to the destruction of the bone surrounding the tooth.
What Happens During Treatment?
If we determine through x-rays and a clinical examination that root canal treatment is necessary, we will schedule a series of appointments for you. It is important that you keep these appointments to prevent delays in treatment and healing, which can affect the outcome. It's also essential that you take all medications prescribed to hasten healing and reduce swelling.
First, we want to relieve any discomfort you might be experiencing and ensure your comfort throughout the treatment. When necessary, an anesthetic will be used to numb the tooth and surrounding area. The tooth will carefully be isolated, which confines the treatment area and protects the rest of the moouth during treatment. An opening will be made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp.
If we determine through x-rays and a clinical examination that root canal treatment is necessary, we will schedule a series of appointments for you. It is important that you keep these appointments to prevent delays in treatment and healing, which can affect the outcome. It's also essential that you take all medications prescribed to hasten healing and reduce swelling.
First, we want to relieve any discomfort you might be experiencing and ensure your comfort throughout the treatment. When necessary, an anesthetic will be used to numb the tooth and surrounding area. The tooth will carefully be isolated, which confines the treatment area and protects the rest of the moouth during treatment. An opening will be made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp.
When the root pupl is affected in this way, the root can become abscessed, causing swelling and pain.
Second, we will carefully remove the diseased pulp. The root canal area inside your tooth will be cleaned, enlarged and shaped. Then, depending on your individual case, the root canal and pulp chamber may be permanently filled and sealed. In some cases, we place a temporary medication in the tooth to control bacteria growth and reduce infection.
A temporary filling will be placed in the opening of the tooth until the next visit. In some cases, the tooth may be left open in order to allow the infection to drain. We will decide what is right for your individual case and do whatever is necessary to assure your comfort.
At the next appointment, we will thoroughly clean the inside of the tooth to remove any additional bacteria. Throughout the root canal procedure, we will take x-rays to ensure that all of the infected pulp is removed and that the canals are well prepared.
Finally we will permanently fill and seal the pulp chamber.
Once the root canal treatment is complete, the tooth needs to be fully restored.
A portion of your tooth enamel is removed to give access to the root. The diseased root pulp is then removed.
What Care follows the Treatment?
Once the root canal treatment has been completed, you should consider the following:
Brittleness | a non-vital (endodontically treated) tooth is more brittle than a vital one and is more susceptible to fracture. Therefore, in most cases, we recommend that your root canal tooth be crowned (capped) following treatment.
Discoloration | you may notice that your endodontically treated tooth (especially a front tooth) has undergone a change in color. Though this discoloration is of no medical concern, you may be interested in having the tooth whitened. Be sure to ask us about tooth whitening if we do not decide to place a crown on the tooth.
We believe in saving teeth and we will make every effort to save yours!
Once the root canal treatment has been completed, you should consider the following:
Brittleness | a non-vital (endodontically treated) tooth is more brittle than a vital one and is more susceptible to fracture. Therefore, in most cases, we recommend that your root canal tooth be crowned (capped) following treatment.
Discoloration | you may notice that your endodontically treated tooth (especially a front tooth) has undergone a change in color. Though this discoloration is of no medical concern, you may be interested in having the tooth whitened. Be sure to ask us about tooth whitening if we do not decide to place a crown on the tooth.
We believe in saving teeth and we will make every effort to save yours!
The root is filled with a synthetic pulp material and the cavity is filled with amalgam or a tooth-colored filling material.
