Endodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of dental pulp and tissues surrounding the roots of teeth. The most common procedure in endodontics is a root canal treatment, which involves removing the infected or damaged pulp from the tooth and replacing it with a filling material to restore the tooth's function.
Candidates for endodontic treatment are patients who have damaged or infected pulp in their teeth. Some common indications for endodontic treatment include severe tooth pain or sensitivity, deep cavities, dental trauma, repeated dental procedures, and gum disease. Patients who experience these conditions may benefit from endodontic treatment to preserve the natural tooth, prevent further damage or infection, and alleviate discomfort.
Here at Cummins Family Dental we complete root canals on anterior teeth. Patients who need root canals on posterior teeth will be referred to and specialized Endodontist to complete their treatment.
Post Treatment Instructions:
- Your lips, cheek and/or tongue may be numb for several hours after the procedure. To avoid injury, you should avoid any chewing and hot beverages until the numbness has completely worn off. It is very easy to bite or burn your lip, cheek, or tongue while you are numb.
- Irritation to the gum tissue can occur from dental work. Rinsing your mouth 2-3 times per day with 1/2 tsp of warm saltwater can help alleviate discomfort. Injection sites can be sore for several days after your appointment. Over-the-counter pain medications work well to alleviate the tenderness.
- It is not uncommon for a tooth to feel tender or even exhibit a dull ache over the next few days as your body undergoes the natural healing process. These symptoms are temporary (usually last less than one week) and usually respond well to the over-the-counter medications.
- You may feel a slight indentation or rough area on the back of a "front tooth" or the top of a "back tooth." This is where a temporary material was placed through the access that was made on the tooth. It is not unusual for a thin layer to wear off in-between appointments. However, if you think the entire filling has come out, please contact our office.
- Your tooth may be sensitive to biting pressure and may appear to feel loose. This is a normal response and is no cause for alarm.
- If your bite feels uneven and is causing soreness, please call our office. A short office visit to adjust the problem area usual leads to a quick and dramatic improvement.
- Please avoid chewing on the tooth that had the root canal. Whenever possible, try to chew on the opposite side of the treated tooth (as it is brittle) until the final restoration has been placed. The temporary filling will not permanently protect your tooth from reinfections or fracture.
- A permanent restoration is required after a root canal is performed on a tooth. Depending on the location of the tooth will determine what restoration will be recommended. Most teeth will require some type of crown, although there are exceptions where a filling may be placed. This permaneent restoration is used avoid future tooth fractures as the tooth is "hollowed out" from the root canal procedure.