Who Performs Endodontic Treatment?
Endodontists are dentists with
special training in endodontic
procedures. They do only endodontics
in their practices because they are
specialists. To become specialists,
they complete dental school and an
additional two or more years of
advanced training in endodontics.
They perform routine as well as
difficult and very complex
endodontic procedures, including
endodontic surgery. Endodontists are
also experienced at finding the
cause of oral and facial pain that
has been difficult to diagnose.
Endodontic Treatment is.....
More than 14 million teeth receive
endodontic treatment each year. By
choosing endodontic treatment, you
are choosing to keep your natural
teeth as a healthy foundation for
chewing and biting for years to
come. Endodontic treatment, or root
canal therapy, involves removal of
diseased or compromised pulpal
tissue from within the tooth,
followed by a thorough cleansing of
the root canal system. It is
generally a highly successful
procedure, with over 90% of all
cases healing with routine
treatment. Occasionally, additional
procedures are necessary to ensure
that your tooth can be saved. These
may be performed at the initial
visit or at a later date. Most teeth
can be completed in 1-2 visits with
minimal discomfort. Following
treatment, a crown is recommended on
most endodontically treated teeth,
which should be performed by your
family dentist.
Why Would I Need An Endodontic
Procedure?
Endodontic treatment is necessary
when the pulp becomes inflamed or
infected. The inflammation or
infection can have a variety of
causes; deep decay, repeated dental
procedures on the tooth, or a crack
or chip in the tooth. Signs of
pulpal damage include, prolonged
sensitivity to heat or cold,
discoloration of the tooth, and
swelling and tenderness in the
nearby gums. Sometimes, there are no
symptoms.
Will I Feel Pain During or After The
Procedure?
With modern techniques and
anesthetics, most patients report
that they are comfortable during the
procedure. For the first few days
after treatment, your tooth may feel
sensitive, especially if there was
pain or infection before the
procedure. Your tooth may continue
to feel slightly different from your
other teeth for some time after your
endodontic treatment is completed.
The Endodontic Procedure:The Endodontist examines and
x-rays the tooth, then administers
local anesthetic. After the tooth is
numb, the Endodontist places a small
protective sheet called a "dental
dam" over the area to isolate the
tooth and keep it clean and free of
saliva during the procedure.
The Endodontist makes an opening
in the crown of the tooth. Very
small instruments are used to clean
the pulp from the pulp chamber and
root canals and to shape the space
for filling.
After the space is cleaned and
shaped, the Endodontist fills the
root canals with a biocompatible
material, usually a rubber-like
material called "gutta-percha." The
gutta-percha is placed with an
adhesive cement to ensure complete
sealing of the root canals. In most
cases, a temporary filling is placed
to close the opening. The temporary
filling will be removed by your
dentist before the tooth is
restored.
After the final visit with your Endodontist, you must return to your
dentist to have a crown or other
restoration placed on the tooth to
protect and restore it to full
function.
If the tooth lacks sufficient
structure to hold a restoration in
place, your dentist or Endodontist
may place a post inside the tooth.
Ask your dentist or Endodontist for
more details about the specific
restoration planned for your tooth.
For more information regarding
endodontists particular expertise
and endodontic procedures, visit the
website of
The American Association
of Endodontics Disclaimer:
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contained here should be used in
consultation with a dentist and/or
endodontist of your choice. No
guarantees or warranties are made
regarding
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within this website. This website is
not intended to offer specific
medical, dental or surgical advice
to anyone. Hence, you should
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