An endodontist is a special kind of dentist who can treat damaged or diseased dental pulp. The pulp is the innermost layer of the tooth which consists of soft tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. An endodontist’s education goes beyond the four-year general dentistry program. The extra training that endodontists complete usually takes two to three more years.
The specialization allows an endodontist to diagnose tooth pain. It also gives them the ability to perform treatments inside the tooth. An example of this procedure is root canal therapy. This treatment eradicates bacteria from the infected or damaged root canal. The goal of this procedure is to end tooth pain and save the natural tooth.
There are many reasons why the pulp can suffer from inflammation or infection. The damage could be due to severe tooth decay. Other causes include faulty crowns or fillings and repeated dental procedures. Trauma to the tooth can also harm the pulp, whether it resulted in visible cracks or not. Without treatment, the problem may result in severe tooth pain and abscess.
Sometimes, the damage is pervasive enough that they become irreparable or non-restorable. In this case, the only option left may be to extract the affected teeth. Endodontists only perform tooth removal as a last resort. A root canal treatment can save a tooth unless the damage is beyond repair.
It starts with the endodontist providing the patient with an anesthetic. Then, a rubber dam will be placed around the affected tooth to keep it dry. The endodontist will drill away the damaged or diseased pulp. The endodontist will drill down further to clean out the decay or disease. Then, they will flush out any debris with water.
The endodontist will seal the root canal system with a rubber-like substance. There are times when a tooth may need more restoration after the endodontist sealed it up. A dental crown or filling may be advisable to protect the tooth. These materials help prevent the risk of reinfection or future fracture. The endodontist will discuss suitable options with the patient. Patients may have to complete the treatment in a single or several visits. This depends on the severity of the damage.
Patients should call an endodontist immediately if they start experiencing severe tooth pain or swelling. Other signs to watch out for are tooth discoloration and increased teeth sensitivity. Even with extensive tooth decay or severe fracture, it might still be possible to save the tooth. Besides root canal treatment, an endodontist can also handle other dental procedures. These include oral surgery, dental implantation, and fixing traumatic tooth injuries, among others.
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What if the endodontist provides the opportunity to choose between tooth extraction or a root canal procedure? Then, opt for the latter. Keep in mind that no tooth restoration can be a substitute for your natural teeth. With proper oral hygiene practices, the teeth that have undergone root canal therapy can last a long time.
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