After you’ve had a root canal, place an ice pack or something cold over the affected area as soon as you can. Reapply the ice pack for 10 to 15 minutes every hour during the first four to six hours.
Root canal therapy performed by an endodontist is often the best way to save your natural teeth. In fact, in a good many instances teeth otherwise deemed "hopeless" or "unsaveable" can be saved through root canals and other oral surgeries.
Endodontic treatments (or root canals) offer many benefits over tooth extraction, the primary being that this will save the tooth. A natural tooth will always function better in the mouth than dentures or other tooth replacements.
In order to become a dentist, you must attend a school accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. In 2008, there were 57 schools that met that standard.
There were 141,900 dentists in the country in 2008, with about 85 percent of them working as general dentists. The other 15 percent were specialists with about a third of all specialists working as orthodontists.
Are you worried that you’ve let an infected tooth go too long without treatment for it to be saved? Rest assured that we’ll do everything in our power to avoid an extraction.
There are essentially two basic types of endodontic treatments: regular root canals and apicoectomies. The apicoectomy becomes necessary when someone who has undergone a first root canal requires a second treatment due to a new trauma or deep decay that causes a new infection.
After your root canal, it’s common for your tooth to feel more tender or sensitive than usual. Over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen or aspirin may help if the sensation is bothering you. If it doesn’t go away within a few days, see your dentist for a follow-up exam.
Did you know that trauma to a tooth can cause pulp damage even if the tooth itself has no visible chips or cracks? Any pain in a tooth should be looked at and assessed immediately to determine if endodontic treatment is necessary.
The first thing that a dentist will do when you have a tooth with an infected root is a thorough examination to determine the best treatment option. Depending on factors like the amount of decay present in the tooth or the amount of bone support, they may recommend a root canal or replacing the tooth with a dental implant.
One of the best things you can do to prevent the need for root canals in the future is to be diligent about flossing every day. The area between teeth is where the majority of plaque that leads to dental problems originates.
Do you drink lots of orange juice or ever take vitamin C supplements? Studies show that this can cause less tarter, plaque, and bacteria in your mouth, versus just brushing your teeth alone.
Have you been considering having an infected tooth extracted instead of undergoing a root canal? Remember, keeping your teeth in place is the best way to preserve the shape of your mouth.
What is pulpitis? It’s an inflammation of the pulp, which may be caused by tooth decay, trauma, or repeated dental procedures. The primary symptom is pain, and the disease itself is confirmed through an endodontic examination and x-rays.
Have you recently injured your tooth? You could have damage to the soft tissue in the root. An endodontist can help determine the extent of the injury to the root.
While root canals and other endodontic procedures are usually painless, a trip to the dentist may still fray your nerves. Bring your mp3 player stocked with your favorite music to help keep you calm throughout the process.
Although early evidence exists that speaks of primitive endotonics being performed (a bronze wire was found in the tooth of a skull from 200 BCE), it was not until the 1st century AD that more scientific methods came along, revealing the need for draining as a means of both pain relief and alleviation of pressure.
"Why will it take three appointments for my implant?" In many situations, that first appointment involves putting the implant into the jaw. Once the jaw has fused with the implant – a process that can take 3 to 6 months – the second step is to attach an abutment to the implant and then a final appointment is used to attach the crown to the implant and abutment.
One of the four types of pulp disease is dental pulp calcification. In this situation, a root canal is generally required because the pulp tissue has become hard through calcification. This condition presses the nerves in the pulp together and can be quite painful.
Although root canals have a reputation for being painful, this isn’t the case at all in modern times. In fact, root canals are the best way to eliminate the pain of infections and inflammations in the middle of teeth.
The American Association of Endontics (AAE) was first formed in the year 1943 by a group of only 20 men dedicated to the study of root canal therapy. In 1946, the first Journal of Endondontics was published, and in 1956, this led to the American Board of Endodontics becoming established.
This year our Christmas Party was a little different. Usually we try a different restaurant each year but this year we chose to stay in and enjoy each other’s company! We played board games, relaxed and celebrated in the comfort of our own office. It was refreshing and turned out better than we could’ve ever imagined!
Endodontic is a combination of Greek prefixes that defines its practice. It is from the word endo- meaning “inside” and the word dontos which means “tooth.” Thus endodontic practice is concerned with treatment of the inside of a tooth.
For some patients, it becomes necessary to insert a post into their tooth to help hold their new crown in place. We’ll let you know if your tooth lacks sufficient structure to hold the crown on its own.
Are you worried that you’ll never be able to eat normally again after having a root canal? Once your permanent crown is in place, you should be able to eat all the foods you used to enjoy.
If acute gum disease is present, treatment using a method called scaling and root planing may be needed. An ultrasonic cleaner removes tartar under the gum line, then the roots are planed so the gum will better reattach to the tooth.