Your tooth’s enamel can get compromised, exposing the internal structures of the tooth, like the dentin and pulp chamber. The dentin is the second layer of the tooth after the enamel. The pulp is the innermost chamber that contains a tooth’s nerves, connective tissues, and blood vessels. Exposure to bacteria can cause an infection in the pulp, leading to decay. It can cause significant pain or swell around the tooth.
If your dentist has established that your tooth is infected, they will recommend a root canal treatment to save the tooth and stop the infection from spreading. Usually, endodontists have different approaches to doing this, some surgical, others not. Keep reading to learn about the goal and various types of root canal treatments.
Why is a root canal important?
Root canal treatments remove decayed or inflamed material from an infected tooth. Removing the infection is essential to prevent further damage to the tooth and nearby structures.
If not treated on time, the infection can spread from the tooth to the nearby gums, connective tissues, and jawbone, eventually leading to tooth loss, jawbone damage, and other complications. Even worse, a tooth infection can spread to other areas of the body, like the brain and the heart, causing life-threatening complications.
Before performing a root canal, the dentist will always begin by examining the tooth. They can take X-rays and images to determine the extent of the damage. The dentist or endodontist might recommend a tooth extraction if the damaged tooth is beyond saving. Contact our dentist for endodontics near you.
Types of Root Canals Therapies:-
The variations in the root canal treatments mainly depend on the tools used to clean the tooth canals. Some approaches use physical tools, while others use water, lasers, or/and sound. Your treatment will depend on the tooth’s condition and the root canal’s anatomy.
In all procedures, the endodontist will always begin by numbing the area around the infected tooth to prevent pain. Then, they’ll prepare the tooth for the treatment. The treatments can include:
- Traditional non-surgical root canal
The endodontist begins by drilling through the tooth to access the interior side of the tooth to remove the decayed or infected materials. Then, they use a series of tiny files to scrape the sides of the tooth’s interior to remove the infected pulp.
Next, the endodontist uses cleaning solutions to flush out the canals to ensure all the debris and bacteria are eliminated. Without thorough cleaning, infected material can be left in the canals, causing the need for a root canal retreatment in the future. Lastly, the dentist seals and fills the tooth. Once the tooth heals, a permanent filling or crown may be necessary to strengthen further and protect the tooth.
- GentleWave Root Canal
It’s a less invasive and more efficient way to remove an infected pulp. GentleWave root canal treatment uses fluids and sound waves to clean out the deepest and hard-to-reach sections of the tooth canals. It only requires a single appointment and has a better success rate than a traditional root canal treatment.
- Waterlase system from BIOLASE
This approach uses light (lasers), water, and air to flush out and clean bacteria and debris from the root canals, making it less invasive. It means more of your tooth structure is preserved. It’s also more thorough and efficient than using files in a traditional procedure. There is less risk of re-infection.
- Root canal retreatment
As the name suggests, root canal retreatment involves performing a root canal on a tooth that had been previously cleaned. After the first root canal, a new infection can develop, causing the need for another root canal. The complex anatomy in the canals makes it harder to clean all the debris during the first treatment, resulting in an infection. Re-infection can also happen due to new cracks or cavities in your tooth, filling, or crown.
- Endodontic microsurgery
If the non-surgical treatments aren’t feasible, a root canal specialist can recommend endodontic microsurgery. It is especially important if you have a tooth with complex anatomy of canals that you can’t treat with a traditional root canal, have calcium deposits inside the canals, or need treatment on a damaged root.
If by any chance you are looking for an endodontist to get a root canal treatment in Randolph, MA? We recommend you to visit Randolph Dental Group. They have a very nice dental office and also their online reviews are commendable.