Endodontics / Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that replaces a tooth’s damaged or infected pulp with a filling. Damage to the pulp may be caused by untreated dental decay, decay beneath a filling, tooth damage due to trauma, tooth grinding(bruxism) org um disease. The procedure is also known as a endodontic treatment.
Fear Root Canals? Try Laser Root Canal Therapy
New laser technology promises to change the way you experience traditional root canal therapy. After all, we now have air abrasion to fix cavities, so why not incorporate technology to improve the root canal procedure for busy or dental anxiety patients? Laser root canal therapy uses a parallel beam of intense light to clean out root canals. Laser therapy "melts" away debris consisting of bacteria and infection, known as the "smear layer" of the root, and cleans the root more thoroughly than traditional treatments. With less time and pain than a conventional root canal, laser dentistry can remove your infection so that you can get on with your life.
Just Add Water
The invention of the Waterlase® Dental Laser from Biolase Technologies has changed the way some dentists perform root canals. Waterlase uses a laser and high-pressure water system to remove dead tissue and infection from the root's canal. The only root canal laser approved by the FDA, the Waterlase system produces enough heat and pressure to remove debris without using drills or hand files, cutting down the time spent in the dental chair.
The Waterlase laser cleans the root more thoroughly than conventional root canal techniques. Microorganisms can hide in the dentinal tubules, or tiny holes, of the dentin surrounding the root. With conventional root canals, the cleaning process doesn't always reach all of the tubules, leaving behind some of the bacteria well after the root canal is filled and sealed.
The laser penetrates deep into the porous tubules, removing bacteria without damaging the surrounding tissue. While traditional root canal instruments only clean out the tooth's root, the laser actually sterilizes it, increasing your chances of a successful procedure.
Symptoms of tooth pulp damage or disease
A diseased tooth pulp may cause inflammation or infection. The symptoms of a damaged or diseased tooth pulp may include:
• Unprovoked or spontaneous pain
• Sensitivity to hot and cold drinks and foods
• Pain when bitting or cheving
• Loosening of the tooth
• Swelling of the gum near the affected tooth
• Oozing of pus surrounding the affected tooth
• Facial swelling
Sometimes, tooth pulp may become damaged or diseased without presenting any symptoms. İn these cases, the problem is usually diagnosed by special test sor x-rays during a dental check-up or treatment for other dental concerns.
Causes of tooth pulp damage or disease
There are many events that can lead to disease or damage to dental pulp. Some of these include:
• Deep-seated and untreated dental decay.
• Decay beneath a deep filling
• Trauma that damages a tooth
• Habitual tooth grinding (bruxism)
• Advanced gum disease.
Complications of tooth pulp infection
If tooth pulp infection is left untreated, complications could include:
Spreading Infections- once the pulp becomes infected, it loses its ability to figt the spread of the infection. If bacteria find their way into the pulp champer, the bacteria will multiply unchecked. These can cause a severe infevtion or an endodontic abscess when it spreads into the surrounding bone (a pocket or ‘blister’ of pus).
Localized bone loss- The infection may spread around the ends of the infected root canal and cause bone lose in the jaw.
Loss of tooth- the tooth may have to be removed, which interferes with person’s ability to bite and chew. Tooth replacements such as dentures, bridges and dental implants may not be possible or may not be tolerated. They may be more c ostly and involve other issues that also need to be considered.
