What can an Endodontist Do for You?

What is an Endodontist?
An endodontist is similar to a dentist, however, they focus on treating the soft tissue inside the teeth called pulp to maintain natural teeth. Essentially, an endodontist is a root canal specialist and has undertaken additional years of education to perform more complex procedures. These type of treatments are essential in reliving tooth pulp pain due to damaged tissue. Other extensive treatments Endodontists often perform include dental implants, fixing cracked teeth, internal bleaching and surgical apicoectomy procedures. This differs from a general dentist, who usually focuses on teeth cleaning, filling cavities and fitting crowns. The following is a more in-depth look into the procedures that endodontists can perform on you.

 

Root Canals
Root canals are an endodontic treatment that relieves pain in your mouth, however, still saves your original tooth. This is needed if you suffer severe pain when biting or chewing, or are experiencing gum decay, gum ulcers or increased teeth sensitivity. Root canals are to treat teeth that are damaged or diseased, whereby saving the natural tooth is advantageous for both cosmetic purposes, such as a natural-looking appearance, as well as practical purposes like chewing efficiently. The inflamed or diseased pulp, which is the internal part of the tooth, is cleaned, shaped into a hollow tunnel, filled and sealed with a protective layer. This eliminates bacteria from the infected root canal, and thus relieves pain.

Fixing Cracked Teeth
When a tooth is cracked, the outer layers of the tooth start to move when you chew. This movement irritates the pulp and often damages it to the point where it can not heal by itself, thus treatment must occur. Usually, the tooth will hurt when used to chew, and temperatures of hot and cold food will irritate it. Early intervention is preferred because once the crack extends below your gum line, it can not be fixed. Root Canals are usually the way to fix different types of cracked teeth. For prevention of teeth cracking, you should avoid chewing on hard objects such as pens and ice. Grinding of teeth also makes them vulnerable to cracks, whereby a mouthguard is recommended.

Internal Bleaching
For the internal bleaching process, a hole is created in the tooth to insert a chemical oxidizing agent. This is left in for two weeks, taken out and then refilled until the desired level of whiteness is created. When this is achieved, the hole is then filled to prevent any bacteria from entering the tooth or further pain. This is a cosmetic procedure for the whitening of teeth, however, they are not always thought of due to the increase in teeth whitening products available on the market such as strips, toothpaste and bleaching kits. However, these salons and products are often not regulated by professionals and can cause irritation to your gum.

Apicoectomy
This is a surgical procedure which locates fractures or hidden canals that Xrays can miss. The procedure then removes the apex of the tooth’s root, which is why this is also known as a root-end surgery. This can be necessary when an infection occurs after a root canal, as a last resort to saving the tooth, otherwise, it will have to be removed entirely. The end of the root canal will next be sealed with a filling and then stitches will be applied to close the gum tissue in order for the bone to heal.

Benefits of an Endodontists
Endodontists, such as those at the Australian Dental Specialists, are prepared to deal with these more deep-rooted issues of the teeth. The experience outweighs that of a dentist, who may only perform a root canal once a week, whilst an endodontist specialises in them. Other surgical procedures may not be offered at a general dentist, particularly as they involve more advanced technology such as digital imaging and ultrasonic instrumentation. Furthermore, due to the specialisation and technology, the treatments are more efficient and performed in one sitting.

Overall, for more specialised treatments that may suit your dental needs, an endodontist will need to be contacted instead of a dentist. To save your original tooth rather than getting it removed, an endodontist can perform a root canal, apicoectomy or fixed cracked teeth. This can remove your pain, and help you get back on track with your daily tasks without the discomfort.

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