When decay has entered the interior of a tooth, the tooth is in danger of needing extraction. That’s when a root canal is needed to save the tooth.
At Gonzalez Dental Care, we have the requisite training to perform our own root canals for our patients from Pembroke Pines and the surrounding areas. This saves the hassle of finding an outside endodontist to perform the procedure.
At Gonzalez Dental Care, we have the requisite training to perform our own root canals for our patients from Pembroke Pines and the surrounding areas. This saves the hassle of finding an outside endodontist to perform the procedure.
What is endodontics?
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry focused solely on the interior of the tooth, the pulp, along with issues surrounding the tooth roots. “Endo” is the Greek word for “inside” and “odont” is Greek for “tooth.” Endodontic treatment and root canal treatment are basically the same things. The issue is to address the inflamed or infected soft tissue inside a damaged tooth to allow the patient to save the tooth from extraction.
What procedure is typically performed by an endodontist?
Root canals are the signature procedure for an endodontist. But at Gonzalez Dental Care, we are dentists with the extra training necessary to perform root canal treatment. This makes it easy for our patients to have a necessary root canal performed in the same office where the crown will be placed atop the tooth afterward.
Do root canals require anesthesia?
Root canals are one of the most misunderstood of all dental procedures. Patients associate the intense pain caused by an infected inner tooth with the root canal procedure. The reality is that a root canal is no more painful than having a regular filling placed when you have a cavity.
You need to remember that the endodontic procedure of a root canal removes everything in the interior of the infected tooth. This includes the nerves. Once the tooth is fully cleared by Dr. Gonzalez, it is given a final disinfecting wash, and then filled with a rubber material known as gutta-percha. A filling is placed to close the entry opening. The tooth is now unable to feel pain or hot or cold because it no longer has any nerves.
So, to answer the question, all that’s required for a root canal is a local anesthetic.
You need to remember that the endodontic procedure of a root canal removes everything in the interior of the infected tooth. This includes the nerves. Once the tooth is fully cleared by Dr. Gonzalez, it is given a final disinfecting wash, and then filled with a rubber material known as gutta-percha. A filling is placed to close the entry opening. The tooth is now unable to feel pain or hot or cold because it no longer has any nerves.
So, to answer the question, all that’s required for a root canal is a local anesthetic.
Who is a good candidate for a root canal?
There are two situations where a root canal would be necessary to save a tooth. The most typical case is when decay has been left untreated. Initially, the decay was working into the enamel. But left to its own devices, it penetrated the enamel and the dentin beneath. Now the decay and bacteria have entered the interior of the tooth, the pulp. A root canal will clear out the tooth and save it from having to be extracted.
The second way a tooth can develop inflammation in the pulp is from trauma or repeated dental procedures. Orthodontics can cause this trauma that will show itself years after the braces were removed. Physical trauma can also cause this inflammation.
In either of these situations, the patient will need a root canal. Although not always the case, most patients needing a root canal will know it. They will have extreme tooth pain that is radiating out through their jaw and face.
The second way a tooth can develop inflammation in the pulp is from trauma or repeated dental procedures. Orthodontics can cause this trauma that will show itself years after the braces were removed. Physical trauma can also cause this inflammation.
In either of these situations, the patient will need a root canal. Although not always the case, most patients needing a root canal will know it. They will have extreme tooth pain that is radiating out through their jaw and face.
How long does a root canal take?
Root canals at Gonzalez Dental usually take from 30 to 60 minutes. More involved cases may take up to 90 minutes. That is the time it takes to clean out the decay from the tooth, along with infected blood vessels, nerves, and other tissue. The entry hole is then filled with a composite filling. Most teeth with root canals then need a crown. Crowns are custom made for you by a dental lab; placing them will take a second, short appointment.
What is the benefit of having a root canal?
There are two main benefits to having a root canal: you relieve the extreme pain that accompanies an infected tooth, and you keep the tooth. Once decay has entered the interior, the dentin, of the tooth, the infection spreads through the tooth. The nerve roots in the interior of the tooth will become inflamed; this can create significant pain. By removing all of the material inside the tooth — the nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue — the source of the pain is removed.
The second benefit is that you can keep the tooth. A tooth where decay has entered the dentin is in real danger of needing extraction. A root canal removes the decay and infection. In many cases, the patient is able to keep the tooth for years, decades, even the rest of his or her life. This is a better option than having to replace the extracted tooth with a dental implant or a bridge.
The second benefit is that you can keep the tooth. A tooth where decay has entered the dentin is in real danger of needing extraction. A root canal removes the decay and infection. In many cases, the patient is able to keep the tooth for years, decades, even the rest of his or her life. This is a better option than having to replace the extracted tooth with a dental implant or a bridge.
What are the risks involved in a root canal?
Root canals are very successful procedures. There is a risk of a reaction to the anesthesia, but this is very rare. If some residual infection remains in the tooth, pain can return, and follow-up treatment will be necessary. But, again, this is rare.
How is a root canal done?
These are the steps Dr. Gonzalez makes when performing a root canal:
- The tooth and surrounding tissue are numbed, and a dental dam is placed to keep the area dry.
- A small hole is drilled in the crown of the infected tooth.
- Very small files are then inserted to clean out the entire pulp cavity and root canals, removing the pulp, decayed nerve tissues, and other debris.
- The empty tooth is flushed with sodium hypochlorite to remove any last debris and kill any lingering bacteria.
- The empty pulp chamber and root canals are then filled with a rubber-based material known as gutta-percha and sealed with adhesive cement.
- A composite resin filling is placed over the access hole.
- In most cases, a crown is then placed over the tooth to protect it and give it extra strength. To do so, the tooth is shaved down on all sides and the top and impressions are made and sent to the dental lab. We place a temporary crown on the tooth until your final crown is fabricated. Then that crown is permanently cemented onto your tooth and you’re good to go.
Is there a recovery period after my root canal?
After your root canal, you may have some soreness (mainly in your jaw muscles from holding your mouth open). If your gum tissue was inflamed, it may take a couple days to calm down fully. But generally, you’re free to use the tooth normally. You’ll notice that the extreme pain and sensitivity you had previously are now completely gone.
Patients can be skeptical about this, as they’ve heard horror stories about root canals, but you must remember what the root canal process is doing. Dr. Gonzalez is cleaning out the entire pulp chamber of the tooth, including the nerve fibers, and she replaces it with a sterile material known as gutta percha. Because she is removing all the nerves from the tooth it can no longer have any sensation, including pain. So, while you may have some soreness in the surrounding muscles for a day or so, there cannot be any pain any longer in the treated tooth.
Patients can be skeptical about this, as they’ve heard horror stories about root canals, but you must remember what the root canal process is doing. Dr. Gonzalez is cleaning out the entire pulp chamber of the tooth, including the nerve fibers, and she replaces it with a sterile material known as gutta percha. Because she is removing all the nerves from the tooth it can no longer have any sensation, including pain. So, while you may have some soreness in the surrounding muscles for a day or so, there cannot be any pain any longer in the treated tooth.
Is there anything I need to do to prepare for a root canal?
There isn’t any preparation. These procedures are done under local anesthetic, so you can drive afterwards.
How long will my tooth that had the root canal last?
A tooth only needs the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues when it is growing. Adult teeth maintain their health from a process known as mineralization, not from the interior of the tooth. So, once the infected interior of the tooth is cleaned out and filled, the tooth can remain in place for decades.
How common is it to have a root canal?
Root canals are quite common. Every year over 15 million root canal procedures are performed in the U.S. It’s not a mystery why this is the case — root canals are natural tooth savers!
What happens if I don’t get a root canal?
Once bacteria have reached the tooth interior, this isn’t a voluntary choice of having a root canal. Should you choose not to have your tooth treated at this point, your infected tooth may develop an abscess, a puss-filled pocket that extends up the roots of the tooth. Now even a root canal won’t be able to save the tooth. It will need extraction and replacement with a dental implant or bridge.
Also, your infection in your tooth can spread elsewhere in your body, and this can create a potentially life-threatening situation. There is ample evidence that these types of infections can even lead to sepsis, a serious medical condition in which the immune system severely overreacts to an infection in the blood.
There are many misconceptions surrounding root canals, and that’s unfortunate. Dr. Gonzalez likes our patients to think of them as tooth lifesavers, rather than traumatic events. After all, once the tooth has a root canal, the patient can often keep it the remainder of his or her life. That means they won’t have to deal with a dental implant or a bridge to replace the missing tooth.
Also, your infection in your tooth can spread elsewhere in your body, and this can create a potentially life-threatening situation. There is ample evidence that these types of infections can even lead to sepsis, a serious medical condition in which the immune system severely overreacts to an infection in the blood.
There are many misconceptions surrounding root canals, and that’s unfortunate. Dr. Gonzalez likes our patients to think of them as tooth lifesavers, rather than traumatic events. After all, once the tooth has a root canal, the patient can often keep it the remainder of his or her life. That means they won’t have to deal with a dental implant or a bridge to replace the missing tooth.
Is there a case where a tooth would need extraction rather than a root canal?
The methods involved with root canals have become quite advanced, so very few teeth aren’t able to be saved with a root canal. But there are some occasions. If a tooth has such extensive decay that it compromises too much of the tooth structure, it will need extraction. This can also be true if the tooth has a severe crack, usually one that extends down below the gumline.
How safe is a root canal?
These are safe, low-risk procedures with Dr. Gonzalez. Root canals have been performed a long time; the first documented root canal being performed in 1838. They are very effective for allowing the patient to keep a tooth that would otherwise be headed for extraction.
There is more risk to your health in NOT having a root canal. That’s because the infection within the tooth will first spread to the gums. That will lead to gum disease and the breakdown of the connective tissues holding your teeth in place. The infection can also spread to other areas of the body, including causing cardiovascular damage.
These are safe, effective treatments at Gonzalez Dental Care.
There is more risk to your health in NOT having a root canal. That’s because the infection within the tooth will first spread to the gums. That will lead to gum disease and the breakdown of the connective tissues holding your teeth in place. The infection can also spread to other areas of the body, including causing cardiovascular damage.
These are safe, effective treatments at Gonzalez Dental Care.
Why would I need a root canal if the tooth doesn’t hurt?
Trauma to a tooth can lead to the need for a root canal later. This can occur when the tooth is bumped or from ongoing pressure, such as when the person has traditional braces on a tooth. If the blood supply becomes affected to the tooth, it can cause the interior pulp to die. If this happens, the pulp chamber needs to be cleaned out and sterilized with a root canal.
This won’t always be signaled by pain. Because the pulp wasn’t infected with bacteria through decay, it slowly dies due to the lack of blood supply, but it won’t show the same inflammation as when decay enters the tooth. The dying pulp will show up on an x-ray, however.
This won’t always be signaled by pain. Because the pulp wasn’t infected with bacteria through decay, it slowly dies due to the lack of blood supply, but it won’t show the same inflammation as when decay enters the tooth. The dying pulp will show up on an x-ray, however.
Are root canal procedures covered by insurance?
Yes, root canals are deemed a necessary procedure by insurance companies, so they cover the procedure. Root canals actually save insurance providers money, as they allow the patient to keep the tooth rather than needing extraction followed by placement of a dental implant or bridge.
Schedule Your Consultation in Pembroke Pines, FL
If you’re interested in learning more about endodontics and root canals please contact us for a consultation at (954) 432-4800 or fill out our contact us form. We will discuss your needs and concerns, and determine your best course of action.
