Endodontics
Root Canal Therapy
According to the American Association of Endodontists, root canal therapy is the most feared dental procedure of all. Despite this stigma, root canal therapy is actually a pain-free, quick and relatively comfortable procedure. In fact, it relieves your pain and can prevent more complicated oral issues down the road.
A root canal is a term used to describe the natural cavity in the center of a tooth. This area contains a soft area known as the pulp chamber that houses the nerves. If this area becomes irritated or infected due to cavities, trauma or decay, root canal therapy is necessary. If left untreated, the infection can cause an abscess, which can lead to swelling of the face and neck and bone loss around the roots of teeth.
Oral Trauma
Endodontists specialize in oral trauma and are often able to save teeth that have been injured in accidents or sports-related activities. Traumatic injuries include root fractures as well as teeth that have been chipped, dislodged, or completely knocked-out and should be seen immediately by an endodontist.
Pulpotomy
A pulpotomy is a minimally invasive procedure performed in children who are experiencing pain from a cavity. Underneath the exterior of a tooth is a pocket filled with nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. This is known as the “pulp” of the tooth. The procedure is required when a pulp of the tooth has been exposed by a bad cavity. This can be very painful because the sensitive nerves and tissue are vulnerable.
If your child is complaining of a toothache, it might be because he or she has a large cavity. In this case, we’ll do a pulpotomy, a common procedure for decayed baby molars, to remove the damaged pulp.
For more information on cavities, or dental care for your child call Family Dentistry of Orange Groves at 386-218-2430 to schedule an appointment.
Apexification
Apexification is a procedure used to stimulate root development or closing of the root end ("open apex"). An open apex is often found in teeth that are not fully developed or whose roots have been eroded away by a process known as resorption. This complicates root canal therapy by making it difficult to seal the root canals with routine methods.
Apicoectomy
Apicoectomy is a surgical procedure to remove infected tissue from the area surrounding a tooth's root tip (known as the "apex") and allow proper healing to occur following a root canal treatment. Unlike other procedures, an apicoectomy preserves the strength of the tooth.
Your teeth are held in place by roots that extend into your jawbone. Front teeth usually have one root. Other teeth, such as your premolars and molars, have two or more roots. The tip or end of each root is called the apex. Nerves and blood vessels enter the tooth through the apex. Sometimes, even after root canal treatment, infected tissue can remain. This can prevent healing or cause re-infection later. In a surgical procedure called an apicoectomy, the root tip, or apex, is removed along with the infected tissue. A filling is then placed to seal the end of the root.