Endodontics

Endodontists are dentists who focus on saving your natural teeth through root canal treatment and other endodontic treatments. This specialty area of dentistry focuses on treating the dental pulp and tissues inside the teeth. If you require endodontics treatment, you may be wondering what is available in your area.

Kids & Family Dentistry in New Jersey has an excellent team of endodontists who can perform root canal treatment and improve your oral health.

What is endodontics?

Endodontics is a field of dental medicine focusing on diagnosing and treating diseases and traumatic dental injuries of the dental pulp. A root canal treatment is a common procedure for saving teeth. The dental pulp is a soft tissue in the natural tooth that contains nerves, connective tissue, roots, and blood vessels.

The American Association of Endodontists requires a two to three-year advanced training program in endodontics after dental school. This additional training in endodontics gives specialists the skills and knowledge necessary to provide the best possible care for their patients.

What procedures does an endodontist perform?

The advanced training and specialized techniques used by endodontists allow them to view the inside of the tooth accurately and treat the tooth quickly and comfortably. By removing inflamed tissues, treating tooth pain, fixing mouth trauma, or performing root canal treatment, an endodontist can help you keep your natural smile! Depending on the patient’s diagnosis, endodontic procedures may vary but may include any of the following:

• Root Canal Treatment: The infected tooth is opened up at the crown to access the root canal. After the infected material is removed from the root canal, it is enlarged to receive a temporary dental filling. A permanent filling is placed on the tooth after the temporary filling has healed to eliminate infection and prevent the recurrence of the infection. A crown is then placed over the tooth to protect a filled tooth from damage. This procedure is commonly performed with the goal of saving teeth rather than needing an extraction.
• Endodontic Retreatment: First, the endodontist will remove the previous crown and packing material. Then the root canals get cleaned, re-packed, and re-crowned.
• Endodontic surgery: This surgery is performed to fix a tooth that cannot be repaired with root canal therapy.
• Dental implants: Dental implants are used when the natural tooth cannot be saved. The artificial implants bond with your jawbone, allowing the dentist or oral surgeon to place replacement teeth.

Who should consider endodontics treatments?

Anyone who is experiencing dental pain can ask their dentist about endodontic treatment. Deep tooth decay, traumatic injury to a tooth, repeated dental work on a tooth, infected tooth pulp, or a diseased tooth may be reasons for endodontic treatment.

You should consider endodontic treatment if you have any of these symptoms:

• Severe pain while chewing or biting
• Facial pain
• Tooth pain
• Mouth pain
• A cracked tooth
• Sensitivity to hot or cold
• Swollen or tender gums
• Darkening of the gums
• Tooth decay
• Repeated procedures
• Large fillings

What are the benefits of endodontic treatment?

Endodontic treatment can save teeth that have been damaged by disease or injury. The goal of the treatment is to clean out the infected tissue and seal the tooth so that it can continue to function correctly. Saving the tooth with root canals treatment has many advantages like:

• providing a natural appearance
• returning normal biting force and sensation
• allowing efficient chewing
• protects other teeth from wear or strain

What to Expect During Your Visit

At our office, we provide the highest quality professional care in a relaxing and modern environment. The team at our office ensures that every patient receives the individualized care he or she needs.

To get a clear picture of the root canal, we will use advanced technology to take a digital x-ray of your tooth. An anesthetic will be injected into the area around the tooth to ensure your comfort during the procedure. Once the numbing is complete, we will gently remove the infected tissue from the inside of the tooth and clean it out. Finally, we will fill the tooth and seal it to protect it from future infection.

You can expect to experience minimal discomfort and a quick recovery time.

What is the difference between a dentist and an endodontist?

Endodontists and general dentists both provide dental care but do different things. An endodontist is a specialist who performs root canals or removes inflamed or infected tissue. While a general dentist does multiple things, such as cleaning teeth, filling cavities, and placing sealants, endodontists do one thing — treat tooth pain. Sometimes, general dentists can also specialize in endodontics.

If you are experiencing mouth pain, don’t wait – seek out endodontic care at Kids & Family Dentistry in New Jersey today! Our team of experienced and qualified endodontists can help to save a patient’s natural teeth and improve your overall oral health. Contact us now to schedule an appointment!