DENTAL
EMERGENCIES - ROOT CANALS and EXTRACTIONS
If you are suffering from a toothache,
chipped tooth, loose filling or other dental emergency, the Center for
Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry will make every effort to see you as soon
as possible. Toothaches may be an indication of a cavity or other serious
problem — such as a bacterial infection. Pain is your body's
signal that something is wrong. It also means it's time to seek treatment
for something you might have been putting off for awhile. If you are
having pain, your dental issue needs to be addressed quickly, and should
not go untreated.
At the Center for Implant and Cosmetic
Dentistry, Dr. Roberts performs root canals and extractions. In most
cases, you will not need to be referred out to specialists such as an
endodontist (root canal specialist), periodontist (gum specialist) or oral
surgeon.
Root Canal Therapy (Endodontics)
A root canal treatment is often necessary to save an
infected tooth. For emergencies, Dr. Roberts attempts to perform root
canals the same day that he sees the patient in order that the pain will
go away as soon as possible. Endodontics, or root canal therapy, is
the process of removing and filling the nerves from the roots of a tooth.
There are several reasons why a person may get an infected tooth that may
lead to the need of a root canal. These include, but are not limited to, a
very deep cavity, trauma to a tooth, or a crack in the tooth that extends
into the nerve of the tooth. If an infected tooth is left alone for a long
period of time, an abscess can form. An x-ray is necessary to diagnose an
abscess which will show up as a dark spot below the root on an x-ray .
This dark spot is actually bone loss in the jaw. It is very important to
treat this problem before it becomes a more serious problem.
How is a root canal performed?
Dr. Roberts’ first step is to numb (anesthetize) the effected tooth.
A small access opening is then made through the top of the tooth (biting
surface of the tooth). Dr. Roberts then cleans and shapes each canal of
the tooth in preparation for the filling material. Once each canal is
prepared, it is filled with a material called gutta percha, and the canals
are sealed. The tooth is now ready for a restoration, which frequently
requires a crown. This entire root canal procedure is usually painless,
and completed in one visit, excluding the final restoration.
What are symptoms that I may have
that indicate I may need a root canal?
