Step by Step Root Canal Procedure

Here's a step-by-step guide to an Endodontic (root canal) procedure. The length of treatment depends on the severity and complexity of the tooth. Give us a call if you have any questions.

1. The endodontist examines and x-rays the tooth, then administers local anesthetic. After the tooth is numb, the endodontist places a small protective sheet called a “dental dam” over the area to isolate the tooth and keep it clean and free of saliva during the procedure.

2. The endodontist makes an opening in the crown of the tooth. Very small instruments are used to clean the pulp, nerves, from the pulp chamber and root canals and to shape the space for filling.

3. In our office we add an extra step in which we use the Waterlase MD laser system in two different settings. The first setting is the cleaning stage; water is introduced into the canals, producing a mini "carwash" so any left over debris is suctioned out. The second setting is the disinfection/drying out stage; this setting dries the canals and disinfects them to a point of sterilization before we proceed to step 4.

4. After the space is cleaned and shaped, the endodontist fills the root canals with a biocompatible material, usually a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. The gutta-percha is placed with an adhesive cement to ensure complete sealing of the root canals. In most cases, a temporary filling is placed to close the opening. The temporary filling will be removed by your dentist before the tooth is restored.

5. After the final visit with your endodontist, you must return to your dentist to have a crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.

6. If the tooth lacks sufficient structure to hold the restoration in place, your dentist or endodontist may place a post inside the tooth. Ask your dentist or endodontist for more details about the specific restoration planned for your tooth.

Please note, steps 5 and 6 are typically performed by your general dentist

Reproduced with permission from the American Association of Endodontists.

Comments

Brush (and floss) your teeth!

In the recent Mayo Clinic Health Letter , (Volume 37, Number 4) there was an interesting article on how tooth brushing reduces cardiovascular risks. The article states: Brushing your teeth twice daily is important for maintaining good oral hygiene. This daily routine can also benefit your heart. A study presented at the 2018 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions provides new evidence of this link. The study's 682 participants self-reported their tooth-brushing habits compared with the recommendation of twice a day for at least two minutes each time. Over an average of 28 months of follow-up, those who reported brushing their teeth less frequently and for a shorter duration had three times the risk of a first major cardiovascular event than did those who met the tooth-brushing guidelines. These cardiovascular events included heart attack, stroke, hospitalization for heart failure or dying of a cardiovascular cause. A separate study, published in the December 2018 i...

Does flossing really matter?

Recently, we came upon an article, 17 Health Advances Every Woman Deserves to Know released by the editors of the Harvard Woman's Health Watch . One of the 17 concerns was: does flossing really matter? The simple answer: yes, it does. It reads as followed: A recent report has some people thinking there's no benefit to flossing. But before you toss your floss, consider this: flossing helps prevent periodontal disease, which is linked to higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and dementia. What's more, gum disease is also associated with a greater risk of serious degenerative diseases. To avoid periodontal disease make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day AND floss before bedtime, eat a healthy diet and have regular dental check ups. We often get patients that unfortunately don't floss or we get patients that say they do but their teeth tell different stories. Endodontists are known for being the heroes and heroines of saving teeth so we can't expre...

We Got A New CT!

A few months ago, disaster hit our office. 😱 Our CT went down! No fear, we got it replace with a newer and better CT scan. Introducing the Carestream 8100. The CS8100 allows us to choose whether we want to concentrate on one quadrant of the teeth or if we choose to take a full mouth scan. We can even take 2D panoramic x-rays if we wish. The scan yields a high resolution image. These images are more clear and sharper than the images produced by our previous CT. We are so happy to have this new CT scan in our office. It has helped diagnosis some of the more difficult cases we have seen recently.

Laser Endodontics LLC - Mary Ann Choby, DMD, MS

Search This Blog