What is endodontics?
Endodontics is a branch of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association involving treatment of the pulp (root canal) and surrounding tissues of the tooth. When you look at your tooth in the mirror, what you see is the crown. The rest of the tooth, the portion hidden beneath the gum line, is called the root. Though the outer portion of the root is a hard tissue called dentin, the inside channel or “root canal” contains a pulp of soft tissue, blood vessels and nerves. Bacteria that are introduced into the pulp as a result of tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth fracture or other problems, can severely damage the pulp. When that happens, an endodontic specialist, such as Dr. Claffey removes the diseased pulp to save the tooth and prevent further infection and inflammation. After successful endodontic treatment, the tooth continues to perform normally.
I’m worried about x-rays. Should I be?
No. While x-rays will be necessary during your endodontic treatment, we use an advanced non-film computerized system, called digital radiography, that produces radiation levels up to 90 percent lower than those of already low dose conventional dental x-ray machinery. These digital images can be optimized, archived, printed and sent to cotherapists via e-mail or CD-ROM.
What About Infection in my Tooth?
No worries, a root canal treatment can successfully treat an infected tooth. Sometimes antibiotics may be necessary. Your endodontist will assess your specific needs and determine the best course of action to treat and/or prevent an infection in your tooth.
What happens after root canal treatment?
When your root canal therapy has been completed, a record of your treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist. You should contact his office for a follow-up restoration within a few weeks of completion at our office. Your restorative dentist will decide on what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth. It is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery. If a problem does occur, however, we are available at all times to respond.
What new technologies are being used?
CBCT Scans:
CBCT systems are used by dental professionals to capture and reconstruct a 3D image that is much more detailed and effective than a standard X-ray – with a lower dose of radiation. In less than a minute, about 150-200 images are captured from a variety of angles. The data captured are used to reconstruct a 3D image of your teeth, mouth, jaw, and neck.
Ultrasonic Cleaning:
Endodontists may use ultrasonics to more thoroughly clean and disinfect your tooth during your procedure. Ultrasonics is a way to use sound waves to activate the disinfectant solution to more efficiently remove bacteria and debris from the canal space inside your tooth.
Fiber-optic Transillumination:
This involves placing a flexible fiber-optic cord gently in the mouth. Then, an intense bright light is shown through the tooth, illuminating its interior in a translucent fashion. This allows our endodontic specialists to see defects in the tooth that are often not visible to the naked eye, such as micro cracks or caries (cavities).
