Oftentimes, endodontic treatment is the only thing that stands between a tooth and being removed from the mouth. At Prostho Endo Dental Group, we have extensive endodontic experience and take the approach that each treatment should be tailored based on your individual treatment needs and overall dental health. Whether you are having persistent discomfort or sensitivity, difficulty chewing, or a tooth that hurts to bite on, swelling, or a concern that you might need a root canal, we work hard to provide thorough evaluations and highly trained clinical endodontic procedures. The patients in North Bethesda, MD, are often concerned when hearing that a tooth might need a root canal; our team will work together to make the decision-making process easier and make the prognosis for the tooth clearer.
GentleWave® Technology & Endodontic Treatment
The world of endodontics and root canal therapy has changed a lot over the past decade. Many people have a misconception when they hear the term root canal that it is an invasive and very traumatic procedure that involves a lot of discomfort and suffering; however, this is not the case! With our use of modern technology, we can reach areas of a tooth that a root canal cannot access, as well as those that may be difficult to reach.
GentleWave allows for a much more thorough and less invasive clean-out of the tooth, making the treatment process faster and gentler than some other treatment options. There are multiple canals and complex areas of the tooth that need to be addressed to get an infection out of the root canal system.
The technology that is used in root canal procedures has to be able to clean out the root canal system and save the tooth. With our state-of-the-art technology, we can treat teeth that may have been too complicated to treat before.
Root Canal Therapy & Tooth Preservation
The endodontic procedure is to treat the tissue of the tooth, which contains nerves and blood vessels. This tissue is referred to as a pulp and is in the root canal system of the tooth. If the tooth develops an infection or irritation due to trauma, the pulp can become very sensitive, very uncomfortable, and tender to touch, and can cause discomfort when chewing on the tooth. If this is left untreated, it could progress to become a bigger issue and threaten the tooth.
The purpose of root canal therapy is to remove infection and preserve the health of the teeth and the surrounding tissue. Endodontics at Prostho Endo Dental Group is focused on providing the very best possible dental experience and quality of care that is comfortable to ensure a long-lasting and positive outcome for the tooth.
Prostho Endo Dental Group also performs general dentistry procedures, which allow us to better understand your restorative options to follow up on a root canal. This could be a restoration, crown, or something more involved that helps to keep your tooth in your mouth for years to come.
Diagnosis Of Endodontic Discomfort & Infections
Dental discomfort is rarely that clear and straightforward. You may be experiencing discomfort, but where does that discomfort originate from? It may hurt one tooth, but it could be from a different tooth or teeth. Discomfort associated with a tooth may only occur in certain circumstances and situations. Some have problems with cold or hot temperature sensitivity, while others notice discomfort when biting and chewing.
There are also instances when a patient has no discomfort or discomfort at all, but may be experiencing an active or developing infection or swelling. Our team of specialists takes the time to evaluate the full picture of your dental situation before making any recommendations. This process often begins with a detailed discussion of your signs and symptoms, followed by tests, digital images, and x-rays of your teeth and bone to determine the cause of the issue.
This careful evaluation is important when you have multiple teeth with restorations or cracks, changes to your bite, or a history of previous treatment, and it may include other diagnostic methods.
Cracked Teeth & Endodontic Evaluation
Diagnosing a cracked tooth is not easy. Symptoms can be subtle and unpredictable. While some cracked teeth cause sharp discomfort during chewing, others may be sensitive to temperature or pressure in no consistent pattern. The crack itself may be visible, or it may lie between two teeth or below the gumline. It may be small and barely noticeable, or it may extend below the jawbone or into the root.
Endodontic evaluation determines whether the nerve of the tooth is affected and if the tooth is savable. This evaluation involves a thorough analysis of the location, direction, and extent of the crack. This assessment allows the endodontist to explain what, if any, procedures are recommended to restore and save the tooth. In many cases, the tooth will require root canal therapy followed by placement of a crown or post and build-up; in other cases, the tooth will require observation or removal.
Microscope-Assisted Precision Treatment
Endodontics involves a high level of detail and precision. Root canals can be very narrow or narrow, curved, or calcified, and can be difficult to reach in a tooth with a previous restoration. The high levels of magnification and illumination provided by microscopes enable our specialists to identify and treat all of the roots in a tooth with extreme accuracy and to identify fractures in the roots or other damage that may not be clearly visible otherwise.
A greater level of detail is particularly useful when the dentist looks for additional canals that are often left untreated, evaluates cracks and other structural problems, retrieves restorations and other objects that were inadvertently or intentionally left inside the tooth, and performs any procedure on teeth that present an unusual morphology.
This level of detail preserves as much healthy tooth structure as possible while removing all the infected or damaged tissue. For patients, this level of visualization helps guide care that addresses all issues while providing the highest likelihood of treatment success.
Why Saving Natural Teeth Matters
Whenever possible, natural teeth are worth preserving. Healthy teeth and bones are important for effective chewing, healthy jawbone stimulation, proper bite balance, and the proper spacing of neighboring teeth. Although advances in dentistry allow tooth replacements to serve as excellent substitutes for natural teeth when necessary, the most complete function of the tooth replacement system is to retain and restore the tooth whenever possible.
Endodontics supports this goal by saving the inner portion of the tooth, and the outer portion remains in place. The tooth will typically need to be restored with a crown or post and built up, and can return to its healthy condition of function. Saving the natural tooth benefits the patient’s oral health now and over the lifespan.
Our team of endodontists evaluates each tooth for treatment possibilities, recognizing that every patient’s treatment decision is unique. People sometimes ask us whether removing a tooth is easier than having root canal therapy, especially when a tooth is infected or badly broken.
Sometimes extraction is needed. But after an extraction, a new question arises. How should the tooth be replaced, and how could other teeth be affected in the future? If the tooth could be saved, root canal therapy can often be done. And by keeping the tooth, we can avoid the complications that might result from a future bridge, implant, or partial. Factors that affect the treatment choice include:
- How much of the tooth is left?
- How the root is shaped, how the bone is shaped, and what the restoration will look like.
- Whether the tooth can be predictably restored, and the patient’s overall oral health situation and goals.
- We are happy to talk this over with you so you can make your own decision in a thoughtful manner without rushing into treatment.
Recovery & Long-Term Tooth Preservation
After root canal therapy, you might notice that the tooth and surrounding structures will be sore for a time during healing. The discomfort goes away, and most patients return to their regular routines, but we may not want them to chew on the tooth until the restoration has been completed. We explain the need for any aftercare and completing the restoration to protect the tooth as part of the treatment. After all, the best chance for the tooth to be healthy in the long term requires more than just the root canal.
Often, a tooth treated with root canal therapy needs a good, strong restoration to help prevent it from breaking apart or getting re-infected. Good dental hygiene, regular follow-up visits, and promptly attending to any changes in the bite or new problems will help the tooth. At our office in North Bethesda, MD, Prostho Endo Dental Group offers endodontic care with a special eye to healing and longevity, helping patients get on with the best chance they can have of keeping their tooth.
Choose Prostho Endo Dental Group For Thoughtful Endodontic Care
Having root canal therapy might feel overwhelming if you are confused about what might be wrong with your tooth or whether your tooth can be treated. At Prostho Endo Dental Group, we believe that the treatment begins with understanding what we see in terms of your clinical and diagnostic findings. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and equipment, but equally important is clear communication with you throughout the entire process.
At Prostho Endo Dental Group, we take our time to explain the findings we uncover, why they are significant, and the rationale behind the treatments we recommend to help preserve your natural dentition. With the addition of restorative dentistry to our endodontic focus, we are better able to consider your long-term oral health in addition to your immediate needs.
Patients who receive care at Prostho Endo Dental Group leave our office with a comprehensive understanding of what we see during their dental exam and how our recommended treatment plan will lead to diagnosis, preservation, restoration, and functional health.
If you are experiencing signs of infection or prolonged tooth sensitivity, or have been advised that root canal treatment may be indicated, Prostho Endo Dental Group provides the focused care and thoughtful treatment planning you need to move forward.