subject: A Guide To Endodontics [print this page] One of the many areas a dentist can specialize in is the study of endodontics. If you are not familiar with this field of dentistry, it is the area that deals with the roots of the teeth and the area below the roots. When there is infection present in your teeth and you are in need of treatment, chances are you are going to need root canal therapy. Thanks to the advancements of technology a person now has three options when treatment is needed. Those options are extractions, endodontics, and implants.
Anytime your dentist tells you that you are going to need a root canal, it is because that is the only way a tooth that has become diseased in the pulp can be saved. It is possible for disease to be present in the soft matter below the root and the root itself. Instead of you having to lose the whole tooth, a root canal is necessary to preserve the tooth.
Dentists that specialize in endodontics tend to have very busy schedules. Usually when a patient requires a procedure that falls under the field of endodentistry, your regular dentist will give you a referral to an endodontist. If you ever suffer from abscesses or need some kind of root canal therapy, this is the professional you will need to see.
Keep in mind that many dental insurance plans only cover a certain percentage of endodontic procedures, so you need to make sure that your finances are in order before your appointment. Keep in mind that the specialist that performs the root canals only removes the dead and infected matter that is present in the canal portion of the tooth. Once they are decontaminated, a filling is placed into the hollow area. It is up to the patient to receive a crown from their regular dentist in a separate procedure.
The tooth that was cleaned out by the specialist is now dead. There is no sensation, pain or discomfort because the nerve tissue has been completely removed along with the infection. Many treatments that are performed by this type of specialist are often painless.
To avoid treatment when there is a cavity or infection in your teeth allows the infection to spread and can cause the eventual loss of the infected tooth. Pain, swelling and other signs of infection can present themselves and make living with the infection unbearable. Endodontics is often a good alternative to having extractions, which can cause misalignments and issues with your bite.
Keep in mind that it is very possible and normal for teeth to have more than one root canal. If there is an infection present in any of the canals in the tooth, all of the canals must be cleaned and decontaminated to prevent the spread of infection. If any of the canals are missed the procedure is not a success and another treatment is needed. Teeth that have been filled need to have the additional support of a crown. Dentists recommend that a crown be placed in the near future since the tooth is much weaker once the pulp and root have been removed.
