Endodontics treats infected dental pulp by removing it, filling the canal and sealing the tooth with a crown. Endodontics helps to save a badly damaged or infected tooth. The dentist removes the affected pulp and places a crown on the tooth. What are added sugars and how can you reduce them in your diet? Millions of endodontic treatments are performed every year. Because there are some fears and myths surrounding endodontic procedures, it can be helpful to know the facts.
An endodontic treatment, commonly referred to as endodontics, is a procedure to remove tissue from the root canals of the tooth. The procedure is performed by a general dentist or endodontist. A spongy material called pulp, which contains the nerve, blood vessels and connective tissue of the tooth, resides inside the roots of teeth. The pulp can become infected and inflamed for a number of reasons.
If left untreated, the tooth can become extremely painful and the infection can spread to the bones that support the teeth, which is a serious problem. A common concern is that endodontics hurt. However, current anesthetics and improved techniques have made the procedure much easier to tolerate. The dentist will give you an anesthetic injection to numb the area.
A rubber cover, called a dental protector, will be placed over the area to prevent bacteria from the saliva from entering the space. The dentist will then make an opening in the tooth and use small instruments to remove the damaged pulp and clean the root canals. The spaces now empty are then filled with a latex material called Gutta Percha. The dentist may recommend a filling or crown to rebuild the tooth.
Contrary to popular belief, the roots of the tooth are kept intact and are not extracted during an endodontic procedure. This means that, even after endodontics, your tooth may still be susceptible to tooth decay, periodontal disease, or tooth sensitivity. You may feel numbness in your mouth for a couple of hours after endodontic treatment, but most people can return to normal activities right after root canal treatment. Jiang advises not to eat until the numbness in the mouth disappears, to avoid biting your cheek or tongue. After endodontics, you can brush and floss your teeth as you normally would, unless your dentist tells you otherwise.
Because the infection has gone away, you'll likely feel pain relief soon after treatment. However, during recovery, you can control pain by taking paracetamol (Tylenol) or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen (Advil). If you need more pain relief, Dr. Jiang advises that these medications may be more effective if taken together because they work in different ways.
Just don't exceed the recommended doses for each one. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Note the date of the last revision or update of all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinical professional. Endodontics is usually performed with local anesthesia, a pain reliever that numbs the infected tooth and the surrounding gum.
In these cases, endodontics may be necessary. Endodontics are done to save the tooth by removing damaged or infected pulp, cleaning the area and sealing it to prevent future problems. This procedure not only relieves pain, but it also ensures that you keep your natural tooth, keeping your smile and functioning without resorting to extractions or implants. Endodontics is a dental procedure that removes damaged or infected pulp from the inside of a tooth.
The pulp is a soft tissue that contains nerves and blood vessels. When infected or inflamed, it can cause severe pain and tenderness. Endodontics can prevent a damaged or infected tooth from being extracted and is often a necessary treatment for tooth decay or serious trauma. Options other than endodontics include removing the damaged tooth without the need for additional treatment or removing and replacing the tooth with a dental implant, bridge, or removable partial denture. The pulp extends from the crown, which is the part of the tooth that can be seen, to the tip of the tooth root in the jaw.
Rooted teeth are more likely to break than healthy, unrestored teeth, so your dentist may suggest that you place a crown on the tooth to protect it. Using specialized tools, the dentist removes the pulp from the pulp chamber and cleans the space inside the root canals. Or if treatment has already been carried out to a high standard and the infection persists, a small operation to remove the tip of the root (an apicoectomy) may be performed to treat the infection. Therefore, if you experience severe dental pain, sensitivity to heat or cold, swelling or tenderness in your gums, or a persistent bad taste in your mouth, you should see a dentist to determine if you need root canal treatment.
During regular endodontic treatment in Austin, infected or damaged pulp is removed from the inside of a tooth and the inside of the tooth is cleaned, disinfected and filled in to prevent future infections. Endodontics is a common treatment designed to save a tooth affected by deep decay or infection. The procedure involves drilling a small hole in the tooth to access the pulp chamber and root canals, extracting the pulp and cleaning the area thoroughly. Endodontics, the dental specialty that focuses on the inside of the tooth, plays an important role in saving teeth with root canals.
In some cases, a tooth with roots may darken, especially if it has died as a result of an injury, such as a blow to the tooth. If you don't get root canal treatment, the tooth infection can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious health complications. If the procedure is particularly complex, your dentist may refer you to an endodontic specialist, known as an endodontist.
