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Endodontics is a subspecialty of general dentistry. Also known as root canal therapy, endodontics treats interior tooth pulp, preserving a compromised tooth for years to come. Learn more about it by reading the basics of endodontics in this blog.
Why Would Someone Need Endodontic Therapy?
Root canal therapy is reserved for teeth with compromised health and structure due to extensive decay, multiple fillings, abscess (infection), or traumatic injury (resulting in a large chip or crack). Other circumstances also may impact the immediate and long-term viability of tooth structure above and below the gum line. These teeth may need root canal treatments as determined by X-ray and dental examination.
People who qualify for root canal therapy may have one or two noticeable symptoms, such as a throbbing, aching tooth, sensitivity to heat, cold, or the pressure of biting and chewing. Some patients feel no appreciable symptoms whatsoever. In other words, dental health is very individualized. No two smiles are exactly the same in appearance or in health needs.
That’s why routine, twice-a-year check-ups at your dental office in Eugene, Oregon, are so important. Your dentist visually inspects all your teeth and the condition of your gums and periodically takes digital X-rays to view problems within tooth structure and below the gum line in the jaw bone.
This careful vigilance can keep ahead of some of the conditions that warrant restorative dental procedures, such as fillings, crowns, extractions, and root canal therapy.
What Is a Root Canal Procedure Like?
A root canal procedure is done right in the dental chair, usually with local anesthesia, to numb the tooth and surrounding tissues. Some patients also ask for sedation to maximize relaxation as they undergo their procedures. In all, a root canal will take two appointments, each lasting under an hour.
The procedure itself is very straightforward. After your tooth and surrounding tissues are fully numb, the dentist uses a high-speed drill to open the tooth and access up to four slender canals that occupy the tooth roots.
These canals contain soft connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. When infected or damaged, this pulp must be removed from each canal. The dentist does so using a series of tiny metal files or other miniaturized instruments.
Once the canals are debrided and disinfected with special medication, the dentist seals the canals with a natural rubbery material called gutta-percha. Finally, the dentist places a temporary filling or crown over the tooth, and you return home for a week or so to heal.
At your return appointment, the dentist will remove the temporary restoration and place a customized crown over the tooth. Today’s crowns are usually made from medical-grade porcelain, which is color-matched to the rest of your smile and fitted exactly to your dental bite.
Will Root Canal Therapy Save My Tooth?
The answer is yes. Root canal therapy is one of modern dentistry’s most successful restorative services. Root canal therapy preserves as much natural tooth structure as possible–from the roots below the gum line to the structure above.
Additionally, root canal therapy:
- Preserves the natural alignment of surrounding teeth
- Keeps the underlying jaw bone strong and sizable
- Improves the health of gum tissue
In fact, most teeth treated with root canal therapy last for years and years–even a lifetime. Of course, your dentist and his professional team recommend twice-yearly hygienic cleanings and examinations to ensure your entire smile, including your restored tooth, stays healthy and vibrant. You will leave our dental office looking and feeling good.
Other Kinds of Endodontic Services
Dentists who have training and experience in endodontics also provide other restorative services, such as:
- Retreatment of teeth that have previously undergone root canal procedures
- Apicoectomy, or removal of the compromised end of a tooth root
- Simple and complex dental extractions
- Repair of teeth injured by a traumatic accident
- Dental implant prosthetics which mimic the look and feel of natural teeth
Root Canal Therapy at Your Dental Office in Eugene, Oregon
At 360 Dental, Dr. Ari Binder delivers a long menu of cosmetic, restorative, and preventive services, including state-of-the-art endodontics. If you have dental symptoms you wish to investigate, or if it is time for your six-month hygienic cleaning and dental check-up, call our office team for an appointment with Dr. Binder at (541) 689-1645 or request your appointment here. We will be happy to be of service to you and your family.
