Endodontic Procedures

The good news… today, root canals are fairly routine. More than 14 million root canals are performed every year. And we do a lot of them right here. In fact, 95 percent of the dental procedures we do are root canals. The word root canal has been given a bad rap over the years; however, when done by a qualified endodontic specialist, it’s really a simple treatment that can save your natural teeth and prevent the need of dental implants or bridges. A root canal may become necessary if the center of your tooth has experienced trauma, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms include visible injury or swelling of the tooth, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums. Your dentist will most likely recommend non-surgical treatment first, with success in about 90% of cases. If your tooth happens to be the rare case, surgical treatment with local anesthesia might be necessary.

With the appropriate care, your teeth that have had endodontic treatment will last as long as other natural teeth. In some cases, a tooth that has received treatment may not heal properly, pain may persist, or new problems may surface. Sometimes, symptoms may occur months or years after treatment. Fortunately, you get another chance. A follow-up procedure may promote healing and ultimately save your tooth. At consultation, if we determine retreatment is the best option, we’ll provide a clear picture of the retreatment procedure, cost, and post-care — you’ll be smiling again in no time. If you have dental pain or discomfort from a previous treatment, please talk to us about pain-free endodontic retreatment options.

So, your dentist just referred you to an endodontist (fancy name for a root canal specialist) for an apicoectomy procedure. Now what? Well, that just means conventional root canal treatment isn’t practical. Apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure performed by a highly skilled endodontist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of tooth pain related to root canal disease. Advanced technologies give endodontists a very accurate view of the tooth, making the treatment quick, comfortable and successful. After patient consultation, we’ll take an x-ray or scan to examine and diagnose trouble areas. There are a variety of reasons why apicoectomy is needed, such as previously undetected issues, calcification, or trauma. Some cases, it’s better to treat infection from the root instead of the crown. So unlike conventional root canal, apicoectomy is a surgical approach through the gum using ultrasonic state-of-the-art technology which gives the tooth a better chance to heal and function like it should.

Cracked teeth can be pretty serious, painful, and if left untreated, can lead to infection of the tissue, bone, and gum surrounding the problematic tooth. Symptoms include pain when chewing, temperature sensitivities, or even the release of biting pressure. It is also common for pain to come and go, making it difficult to diagnose the cause of discomfort. Let Alaska Edondontics Specialits get to the root of the problem and get your teeth and gums healthy again. Types of cracks include superficial craze lines which only affect outer enamel, fractured cusp treatable via crown procedure, cracked tooth which extends below gum resulting in root canal treatment, and split tooth, usually the result of an untreated cracked tooth. Sometimes, endodontic retreatment by the doctors and restoration by your dentist can be used to save a portion of the tooth. In some cases, there’s a vertical root fracture which may show few symptoms and go undetected. Treatment involves endodontic surgery which is successful in most cases.

With Alaskans’ active lifestyles, traumatic injuries simply go with the territory. Injuries can cause teeth to be pushed back into their sockets. Your endodontist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. Root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury. And sometimes, depending on the injury, a tooth may be pushed partially out of the socket. Again, your endodontist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. If health of the tooth is in jeopardy, root canal treatment may be required.

Avulsed Tooth — or tooth gets knocked out your mouth. Seek treatment immediately, keep the tooth moist, and if possible, put it back into the socket. A tooth can be saved if it remains moist. Your Endodontist may start root canal treatment based upon the stage of root development. The length of time the tooth was out of your mouth and the way the tooth was stored may influence the type of treatment you receive.