Endodontics (Root Canal)

 
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Endodontics is a dental speciality that focuses on the health of the tooth’s pulp. The dental pulp contains nerves, lymphatic and fibrous tissue, venules and arterioles located in the centre of the tooth.

All About Endodontics

It is a network of living connective tissue and cells that promote healthy the develop of strong and healthy teeth. You could even say that this part of the tooth holds an even more important function because it’s the area that signals our brain when we’re experiencing pain.

Deep tooth pain is usually trying to tell us that our tooth is experiencing an infection, inflammation or an injury of the tooth pulp. Perhaps the pain has come from a cavity that has been left untreated for too long. Remember, cavities don’t usually start off as painful, it’s only when the decay has become so deep that the infection begins to spread further into the tooth.

In other cases, tooth pain can come from repeated trauma or damage to the teeth. If you’ve cracked or chipped your tooth multiple times, it can also lead to an abscessed tooth. Painful symptoms like these are signs that you may need to go see an endodontist for dental surgery in Toronto.

Root Canal Treatments

Dental surgery is administered to save the tooth from further damage or decay. Root canal treatments specifically target the infected tooth pulp to remove bacteria and dead tissue. While the pain prior to a root canal is pretty intense, the root canal treatment itself is a safe and painless way to restore the health and vitality of the infected tooth!

What to expect

Modern techniques coupled with new technologies make root canal treatments in Toronto a fairly simple and routine procedure.

  1. Your dentist or endodontist will use a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and the affected area. You may feel a slight sensation of the needle but it’s a short feeling that passes quickly. Once the anesthetic is in motion, a device will be placed in your mouth to isolate the infected tooth, in order to keep it dry during the procedure.

  2. Your dentist will then open the top of your tooth with a small drill to access the diseased tooth pulp found within the chamber. At this point, they will begin to remove any infected pulp using a variety of small tools. Irrigation techniques are also applied with a water tool to ensure that the source of the infection is targeted.

  3. Once all the infected pulp is removed and an antibacterial rinse is applied, the tooth is filled with a temporary rubber-like filling for the time being. After a few weeks, a permanent crown, or an equivalent restoration, is added on top of the temporary filling.

Aftercare

A few days after a root canal treatment, you may experience a slight discomfort, soreness or sensitivity in the area. Do not worry, this is completely normal and you can take a painkiller to ease the symptoms. However, if symptoms persist past this time frame or feel unusual, it’s best to contact your dentist or endodontist right away. A few things to remember:

  • This area is healing — try to eat softer foods or avoid chewing on the side where the surgery took place until the pressure, pain or sensitivity passes.

  • Follow your endodontists instructions — failing to follow in aftercare may result in complications.

  • Ensure that you clean and care for the area thoroughly — it’s important to keep up with a oral health routine to ensure that infections stay clear!

If you’re ever experiencing any type of tooth pain, don’t brush it off. Call us immediately to set up an appointment!

Jeffrey Gingrastorontodental