What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment is usually undertaken by a general dentist or an endodontist — a dental specialist who has two to three additional years of advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of dental pain, and related root canal disorders and diseases.
What should I expect after a root canal treatment?
All general dentists receive training in root canal treatment, but the dental specialty devoted to it is called Endodontics ("endo" – inside; "odont" – tooth). Endodontists complete at least two additional years of training in root canal procedures after graduating from dental school to become experts in performing root canal treatment and diagnosing and treating tooth pain.
How long does a tooth last after a root canal?
Root canal or endodontic treatment (endo-inside, dont-tooth) is necessary when the inside, or pulp of a tooth becomes inflamed or infected. The pulp contains the nerves and blood vessels — essentially they keep the tooth vital (alive). It is through the pulp that temperature and pain are perceived. The inflammation or infection can have many ...
Can a general dentist perform a root canal?
Sep 13, 2021 · posted: Sep. 13, 2021. Root canal treatment can be an effective life preserver for a heavily decayed tooth. The question a lot of people ask, though, is how long might the tooth survive after treatment. That’s an important concern since the treated tooth was in dire straits beforehand as decay had infected its inner most layer, the pulp.
What is the purpose of a root canal?
The goal of root canal treatment is to remove all diseased tissue from inside the tooth, and to seal the tooth against re-infection. The first step is to make you comfortable with local anesthesia. A thin sheet of vinyl or rubber called a dental dam will be used to keep the area around the affected tooth isolated and dry during the procedure.
How many canals does a front tooth have?
A front tooth that has one root will have one main canal. A molar, which has multiple roots, will have more than one canal. A main root canal can have several "accessory" canals branching off of it.
How many years of training do endodontists need?
Endodontists complete at least two additional years of training in root canal procedures after graduating from dental school to become experts in performing root canal treatment and diagnosing and treating tooth pain.
What is the hollow channel in the tooth called?
And it is also the name of a part of the tooth itself: the narrow, hollow channel that runs from the tip of the root to a central space in the center of the tooth called the pulp chamber (figure 1). These inner tooth spaces house the nerves and blood vessels that nourished the tooth as it was growing.
Why is root canal so difficult?
Figure 3: A root canal in a molar is more difficult because of longer roots and multiple canals, which often have accessory canals. Endodontists are specially trained to handle this type of situation.
Why is it called a root canal?
It is commonly used to describe a procedure for treating inflammation or a bacterial infection deep inside a tooth, as in "you need a root canal.". And it is also the name of a part of the tooth itself: the narrow, hollow channel that runs from the tip ...
How long does a root canal crown last?
This is especially helpful in back molars, which receive the most biting force. When properly restored, a root-canal-treated tooth can last for a lifetime.
What is endodontics in dentistry?
You're right, there are a lot of topics to cover in this area. In fact, endodontics is a whole specialty of dentistry dedicated to root canal treatment. Endodontics is represented by the American Association of Endodontists, a professional group that is also an educational resource for the public.
Why do you need a root canal?
Root canal or endodontic treatment (endo-inside, dont-tooth) is necessary when the inside, or pulp of a tooth becomes inflamed or infected. The pulp contains the nerves and blood vessels — essentially they keep the tooth vital (alive). It is through the pulp that temperature and pain are perceived. The inflammation or infection can have many causes but mostly are the result of deep decay or trauma.
Can a dentist perform root canals?
Often they refer people needing complicated root canal treatment to endodontists, who have had specialized training and limit their practices to endodontic diagnosis and treatment. Endodontists perform routine as well as difficult and more complex procedures and are also experienced in helping to diagnose the cause of oral and facial pain that can be difficult to determine.
Can root canals spread?
Root canal infection can spread into the bone immediately around the root end if left untreated, although it usually remains localized to the area. An association has been shown between periodontal (gum) and to a lesser extent, endodontic (root canal) infection and some systemic (general) body diseases, but it is rare in an otherwise healthy person. Be safe, don't wait to get a root canal treatment done; just because it has stopped hurting doesn't mean it's not infected. Root canal treatment is designed to disinfect the tooth and stop spread of infection making it safe and effective.
Is root canal pain worse than filling?
The procedure begins by administering a local anesthetic to relieve pain. This will numb the tooth and surrounding area so that the treatment is no more uncomfortable than a filling. A common misconception is that root canal treatment is a painful experience when in actuality, it's quite the opposite.
Answer: Orthodontic treatment following Endodontic (root canal) treatment depends on the condition of the tooth
Performing orthodontic treatment following root canal treatment on a tooth depends on the condition of the tooth before, during and after the root canal treatment has been performed.
Answer: Starting Orthodontics Following Root Canal
While 6 months would be ideal, I feel that as long as the orthodontist is made aware of the root canal, and he can follow it on an X-ray, he can begin the ortho after a month and continually monitor the situation.
How does endodontic treatment work?
Endodontic treatment involves removing inflamed, diseased pulp tissue and their byproducts, disinfecting the tooth, and then sealing the inner chamber and the canals so that bacteria will not be able to get back in . This is done in a dental office, usually under local anesthesia. The tooth is then restored with a permanent filling material and often crowned (capped) to strengthen it. A root-canal-treated tooth can last decades with proper care.
What is the hollow space in the center of each tooth called?
In addition, there is a hollow space in the center of each tooth called the “pulp chamber” that contains living tissue (pulp). The nerves and blood vessels of the pulp pass through narrow spaces called canals, which branch from the pulp chamber and out through the root tip. Once outside the tooth, they connect with the rest of the body.
Can endodontics cause cancer?
The root ( if you’ll pardon the pun) of the false assumption that endodontic treatment can cause cancer is based on false theories of an early 20th century dentist named Weston Price. He believed that leaving a “dead” organ in the body (in this case, the tooth) leads to numerous seemingly unrelated maladies. Yet getting rid of dead tissue is exactly what root canal treatment is designed to do—with the significant bonus of keeping the tooth!