1. Is a Root Canal for you? Do you have any of the following symptoms?
Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers Discomfort when chewing or biting Dull ache Discomfort that wakes you up at night Your dentist has diagnosed the need for endodontic treatment either by clinical exam or x-ray If you answered yes to any of the above, you might very well need a root canal. Please call and schedule for an evaluation. Be aware not all teeth that ARE in need of root canal therapy will cause pain. It is possible to be pain-free and still need a root canal.
2. What is a Root Canal?
ROOT CANAL is a "lay persons" term for endodontic therapy or root canal therapy. Root canal therapy is necessary when the nerve inside the tooth becomes irreversibly damaged or infected. This is usually due to the entry of bacteria into the center most part of the tooth called the dental pulp ("nerve"). Root canal therapy involves the removal of the entire nerve system, as well as cleaning, shaping and filling 3-dimensionally the canal system with gutta-percha and a dental sealer.
3. What is Involved in a Root Canal Procedure?
The endodontist examines the x-ray and the tooth, then administers a local anesthetic. After the tooth is numbed, a Small protective sheet, called a dental-dam is placed to isolate the tooth, A Small opening will be made in the crown of the tooth and Small instruments will be used to clean the canals and to shape the canal spaces for filling. Once the canals have been adequately cleaned and shaped, the canals will then be filled with a rubber-like material called "gutta-percha" and sealer. A temporary filling is then placed to close the opening. Your dentist will remove the temporary filling before the tooth is restored.
4. Is the Root Canal Procedure Painful?
With modern techniques and anesthetics the procedure is much faster and with less discomfort than there has ever been. A similar anesthetic as the one used by your dentist will be used for the root canal. For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive to the bite. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications in order to control normal post-treatment discomfort.
5. Will I Feel Anything After Root Canal Treatment?
In most cases the quantity and quality of discomfort will subside dramatically within the first 24-48 hours. Any sensitivity to cold, hot or even breathing air "in" will be gone after your visit. Nevertheless, you may experience mild discomfort that will last for several days after treatment. Taking over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, Advil, Motrin, or Aleve usually relieves this discomfort. Tylenol has been proven not to be as effective as aspirin, etc., because it does not have the anti-inflammatory component as these other medications. The most common complaint is tenderness to touch, bite, tapping or chewing on the tooth. It is recommended to refrain from any of the above until your dentist permanently restores your tooth.
6. What are the Benefits of Root Canal Therapy Versus Extraction?
The single most important benefit of root canal therapy is that you keep your tooth. Extraction may lead to other dental problems. For instance, drifting of teeth, bite problems, TMJ discomfort, and the need to treat adjacent teeth that do not otherwise need dental treatment in order to restore the missing tooth. No matter how effective modern tooth replacements are - and they can be very effective - nothing is a good as your natural tooth.
7. My Dentist said I need treatment, Why do I have to have another consultation and/or examination?
While your dentist is probably right, we must verify that the tooth does in fact requires endodontic treatment for both medical and legal reasons. We are responsible for making sure that treatment is warranted. We will test your tooth to check if it is temperature sensitive to cold and possibly heat and/or electrical impulse. Other tests that we routinely complete include tapping on your tooth to see if inflammation is present, rubbing the gum area near the end of the roots for sensitivity, and measuring your gums to check the periodontal health of the area. Sometimes we have you bite on a stick and/or use a fiber optic light to check for cracks or fractures which go through your tooth. Usually we will take x-rays at various angles. Not only are we looking for an abscess but also the anatomy of your tooth. Since you are 3 dimensional and X-rays are 2 dimensional we lose information that we attempt to make up by taking specialized angles. X-rays alone are not sufficient for diagnosis. Just because there's nothing on the X-ray's does not mean there is not a problem. Early stages of pulp degeneration and some small abscess are not visible on the X-rays.
8. Why Does the Examination Take so Long?
Many things occur during your consultation visit to our office. You will have some forms to fill out such as a health questionnaire. We will take your blood pressure, obtain radiographs (x-rays), ask about your endodontic problem, evaluate symptoms, complete an examination of the area in question along with endodontic testing and discuss treatment options available to you. Also we will provide a pretreatment service estimate. The length of time in our office varies, many cases are referred to us because they are more difficult and therefore require more time.
