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What is endodontics?
Endodontics is a branch of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association involving treatment of the pulp (root canal) and surrounding tissues of the tooth. When you look at your tooth in the mirror, what you see is the crown. The rest of the tooth, the portion hidden beneath the gum line, is called the root. Though the outer portion of the root is a hard tissue called dentin, the inside channel or "root canal" contains a pulp of soft tissue, blood vessels and nerves. Bacteria that are introduced into the pulp as a result of tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth fracture or other problems, can cause infection or inflammation and may severely damage the pulp. Symptoms of damaged pulp include sensitivity to hot, cold, pressure, and swelling.
Endodontic treatment saves teeth that might otherwise need to be extracted. During root canal treatment, an intricate cleaning technique is used to remove damaged tissue from inside the tooth. This allows the treated tooth to remain alive and nourished by the surrounding gums and bone. Remember that there is no real substitute for your natural teeth.
As an endodontic patient, what should I expect?
A limited oral evaluation to diagnose orofacial pain and pulpal injury and determine if the tooth is a good candidate for endodontic therapy.
Non-surgical treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp. This injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed.
Under certain circumstances, microsurgery may be indicated. We are experts in performing this procedure, and utilize sophisticated equipment to ensure the best result.
I'm worried about x-rays. Should I be?
No. While x-rays will be necessary during your endodontic treatment, we use an advanced non-film computerized system, called digital radiography, that produces radiation levels up to 90 percent lower than those of already low dose conventional dental x-ray machinery. These digital images can be optimized, archived, printed and sent to cotherapists via e-mail or diskette. For more information contact Schick Technologies, Inc.
What about infection?
Valley Heights Endodontics takes infection control seriously. We understand that a prominent issue in health care is the control of infectious diseases. That’s why we have adopted the latest infection control techniques to meet and exceed all American Dental Association (ADA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. These universal precautions ensure that all patients are protected in the same manner. Additionally, this office uses the IMS cassette system. Each blue wrapped package of dental instruments is individually sterilized and wrapped for your specific procedure. This is one more precaution we take to safeguard your health.
What happens after treatment?
When your root canal therapy has been completed, a record of your treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist. You should contact his/her office for a follow-up restoration within a few weeks of completion at our office. Your dentist will decide what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth. It is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery. If a problem does occur, however, we are available at all times to respond.
What new technologies are being used?
With the use of increased magnification, fiberoptics, and ultrasonics we are able to see the internal tooth anatomy and areas of the surgical site with greater detail than ever before. These areas, which were previously under-illuminated or unseen, used to require greater caution. Using these new technologies we can provide treatment with more confidence and greater predictability of success.
The Global Surgical Endodontic Microscope has revolutionized many endodontic treatments. With the use of this microscope, difficult root canals and endodontic surgical cases can be performed under levels of illumination and magnification previously unavailable. The result is dramatically improved visualization of the interior of calcified root canal cases and difficult surgical fields.
We have used fiberoptics, fiberoptic clip, and fiberoptic surgical retractors for years. We have also used 3.5 to 6 power loupes (special magnification lenses that can be worn like glasses) in recent years to increase visualization of canal orifices, surgical fields, and fracture diagnoses. The increased magnification and the large fiberoptic illumination of the microscope allows us to locate calcified canals, auxiliary canals and other anatomical anomalies with greater ease or find those which might have been previously missed.
Ultrasonic tips under magnification and increased illumination now allow us to locate fourth canals (or more) making these cases more routine than before, thus increasing the long term success rates with root canal therapy.