Endodontics Treatment Ellicott City, MD

Root Canal Treatments

Why Do I Need A Root Canal?

Not everyone needs a root canal. Patients have given the root canal procedure a bad name because of the pain involved with the active decay in the tooth reaching the nerve. It’s not so much the procedure of the root canal itself but the pressure of the damaged nerve. Most patients will actually find relief of pain after the initial root canal treatments. Taking anti-inflammatories and a prescribed antibiotic will sometimes relieve post-treatment pain as well.

When a cavity has gone so far as to reach the nerve of the tooth, the nerve becomes damaged and pulls away from the area of the decay. This is what causes the pain. It gets inflamed and recoils into the tooth. It is encased in the tooth so it has nowhere to swell freely such as an inflamed ankle or wrist bone.

Other symptoms can occur when the nerve of the tooth is damaged or starting to recoil and get swollen. These symptoms are

1) cold sensitivity,

2) heat sensitivity,

3) pressure sensitivity,

4) generalized pain in the area,

5) swelling of the face and

6) a small abscess appearing along the gumline of the affected area. If you have any of these symptoms see your Hoco Dentistry Endodontist as quickly as possible. There may still be a chance the tooth can be saved with treatments.

Tooth Trauma

Teeth can also need tooth trauma treatments when there is a traumatic injury to the tooth. The most common traumatic injury is when it is fractured by an accident. Whether it is from a car accident, baseball situation, or any other means of the tooth being hit by an object, the nerve of the tooth can be so damaged that it will die and need a root canal. When a tooth is avulsed (pops out), it may not re-attach the nerve and the tooth will need tooth trauma treatments then too. An avulsed tooth can be put in ice and taken to the dentist to be re-inserted into the original hole and secured to the other teeth and eventually and hopefully it will re-attach itself to the tooth socket. If the tooth is fractured it can have a build-up and a crown put on it after any treatments are finished.

Endodontic Treatments

Baby teeth can need Endodontics too. Toddlers are very active and tend to fall down and potentially knock out a tooth. Baby teeth endodontic treatments will usually involve just the top portion of the tooth. This is called a pulpectomy where the top portion of the nerve is removed. The roots of the baby teeth are “dissolving” so the roots don’t need to be filled with root canal filling. Hopefully, the permanent tooth underneath the baby tooth is not affected by the trauma. The Endodontist will recommend taking an x-ray and keeping a watch on the area until the permanent tooth erupts enough to see that it is healthy or affected by the traumatic injury.

Any reason for a root canal to be done on a tooth is cause for watching the oral hygiene and care provided at home. Proper brushing and frequent flossing will aid in the prevention of a root canal other than those caused by tooth trauma. Good oral health practices help in all areas of our bodies but preventing infection and disease is important to overall health concerns.

Endodontics (root canal treatments) is also a specialty. A general dentist can also perform the procedures if he/she is comfortable with doing them. Otherwise, they will refer the patient to a specialist in Endodontics in Hoco Dentistry, MD. The specialist will be able to perform delicate root canal treatments that a general dentist may not have that much experience with. This doesn’t mean that the general dentist can’t do it. They just want to ensure that the best treatment possible is available for their patient. Again, contact your dentist immediately if you have any of these symptoms that might require a root canal to be done. Practice good oral hygiene at home after the treatment is done. Cold and heat sensitive teeth are painful to brush and floss.