Endodontics
Simply put, endodontic care encompasses the various treatments and procedures a dentist employs to save an infected or injured tooth. This includes treating the inner tissues of the tooth close to the root, often through root canal therapy. Despite common misconceptions, getting a root canal is not as painful as it’s made out to be in popular culture; rather, it’s designed to eliminate pain.
Endodontics Services & Treatments
Root Canal Therapy
The Best Chance of Saving Your Tooth
If detected early, a general dentist can easily treat tooth decay by filling it. If left untreated, the decay may penetrate the tooth’s exterior layers and reach the soft tissue around the nerves, necessitating endodontic treatment to preserve the tooth. Untreated decay can lead to an abscess at the root, risking further infection and sometimes requiring tooth extraction and prosthetic replacement.
Endodontic Surgery: Preserving a natural tooth is preferable. While dental prosthetics have improved significantly, they cannot match the appearance, sensation, or functionality of natural teeth and are typically more costly and time-consuming due to multiple dental visits.
Patients with root decay might notice pain, sensitivity to temperature, swelling, or discolouration, although some show no symptoms. Dentists often identify the need for a root canal through digital imaging during routine check-ups.
General dentists are trained in basic root canal treatments but usually refer complex cases to endodontists, who undergo at least two additional years of training. Endodontists utilize specialized tools and techniques to preserve teeth effectively, handling even the most challenging cases successfully.
Root canal treatments require removing infected tissue from the root canals to prevent further decay. The complexity of the root canal shape can make treatment challenging without an endodontist’s expertise.
Despite their reputation for being painful, endodontists strive to make root canals as painless as possible using advanced anesthesia techniques. Their specialized training also helps them diagnose oral and facial pain that may be elusive to other healthcare providers.
We are pleased to offer endodontic care at our office. Feel free to call us to learn more about our services and how we can address your endodontic needs.