Endodontics

    /24-7PressRelease/ - GLENVIEW, IL, July 10, 2008 - One of the most dreaded of all dental treatments is the infamous "root canal." A root canal as a procedure is named for the interior part of the tooth and its root (the root canal) where the blood vessels and nerve endings nourish and enervate the tooth. They are known collectively as the "tooth pulp". Treatment of this area is known as endodontics, or endodontic therapy. Endo is the Greek word for inside and odons means tooth - inside the tooth.

As we grow, the tooth's inner structures are very important, but when we become adults, the teeth stop growing and don't need a blood supply or a nerve to survive. As we know, teeth and bones can last for millions of years.

The tooth pulp is susceptible to infection however, and when bacteria and their acid excretions eat their way into the root canal, something must be done to save the tooth's life. Enter endodontics.

Gum disease
Root canal procedures gained their bad reputation because they are done after dental hygiene has been neglected to the point where a tooth's nerve is decaying. This is called toothache! Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and can be recognized by the bleeding gums, the redness and swelling, and sometimes the abscesses.

Periodontitis is the second stage of gum disease. By this point, the toothache may have stopped because the nerve died. But the decay and infection is still rampant. Your dentist will probably prescribe an antibiotic when you first come for treatment. By the second visit the infection is typically cleared up. But the tooth's interior needs cleaning out, and this is what endodontics does.

The endodontic procedure itself is not painful these days because a highly trained modern dentist will always give plenty of anesthetic, will numb the gums before using any needle, and will inject the anesthetic slowly. This reduces discomfort to a "barely perceptible" level.

Endodontic therapy
A pulpectomy (complete removal of pulp material) or pulpotomy (partial removal) is performed first to remove the infected pulp from the root canal. Then the cleared area is scrubbed and disinfected.

• A calcium hydroxide paste is temporarily injected and left in the tooth for at least a week. This strong alkaline base disinfects the area and reduces inflammation.
• After it is removed the tooth is rinsed out and the space filled with an inert dental cement called gutta percha. Barium is added to make the substance opaque for easy identification in future x-rays to identify treated teeth.
• A porcelain crown is placed over the tooth to secure everything and provide a new chewing surface. The porcelain is matched in color to your tooth enamel, and will blend in naturally.

Good daily dental hygiene must be maintained after endodontic therapy. The tooth is now considered dead, but it is still subject to breakage and the gum tissue around it can still become diseased.

Contact Dr. David Dooley with the Colonial Dental Group for more information regarding dental health.

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