Endodontics Root Canal Treatment Boise

WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL?

Root canal therapy is a treatment used to save a tooth when the tissue, blood vessels and nerves inside of a tooth have become irreversibly inflamed or abscessed.

REASONS A ROOT CANAL MAY BE PERFORMED:

• Deep Decay
• Infections at the tip of the root or inside the tooth canal
• Cracked, broken or injured teeth

HOW WE CAN HELP:

In order to save the tooth and eliminate any discomfort, the endodontist removes infected and diseased tissue to help clean out the infected area. The canal inside is then medicated to allow the surrounding area to heal. Any discomfort you may have had rapidly subsides as the tooth heals.

Generally, but not always, a crown will need to be placed after the root canal treatment is complete in order to protect the tooth from any further damage. When your treatment has been completed, the endodontist will provide you with special instructions on how to care for your newly treated tooth.

Once the tooth heals, a new crown or other restoration is placed by your general dentist to protect it.

With proper care, you’ll keep teeth that have had root canal treatment for a lifetime but it’s possible for those teeth to heal improperly, becoming painful or diseased months or even years after treatment. If this happens to your treated teeth, you have a second chance to save the tooth with retreatment. The additional procedure may be able to diminish dental pain or discomfort and promote healing. If you suspect a tooth that had a prior root canal requires retreatment, visit the endodontist for evaluation. You will be able to avoid tooth extraction and a dental implant in most cases!

REASONS A RETREATMENT MAY BE PERFORMED:

As with any dental or medical procedure, it is possible your tooth won’t heal as expected after initial root canal treatment for a variety of reasons, including:

• Narrow or curved canals were not treated during the initial procedure.
• Complicated canal anatomy went undetected in the first procedure.
• The placement of the crown or other restoration was delayed following the endodontic treatment.
• The restoration did not prevent salivary contamination to the inside of the tooth.

A new problem can also jeopardize a tooth that was successfully treated, such as:

• New decay can expose the root canal filling material to bacteria, causing a new infection in the tooth.
• A loose, cracked or broken crown or filling can expose the tooth to new infection.
• A tooth sustains a fracture.

HOW WE CAN HELP:

During retreatment, the endodontist will reopen your tooth and remove the filling materials that were placed in the root canals during the first procedure. The endodontist then carefully examines the tooth, looking for additional canals or new infection. The endodontist then removes any infection, cleans and shapes the canals, and places new filling materials. The opening is then sealed with a temporary filling.

Once the tooth heals, a new crown or other restoration is placed by your general dentist to protect it.

WHAT IS A CRACKED TOOTH?

Whether your tooth cracks from an injury or general wear and tear, you can experience a variety of symptoms ranging from erratic pain when you chew your food to sudden pain when your tooth is exposed to very hot or cold temperatures. In many cases, the pain may come and go and your dentist may have difficulty locating the tooth causing the discomfort. If you experience these symptoms or suspect a cracked tooth, it is best to see an endodontist as soon as possible.

REASONS A CRACKED TOOTH SHOULD BE TREATED:

An untreated crack can lead to root canal therapy or loss of the tooth.

HOW WE CAN HELP:

Endodontists specialize in saving cracked teeth and will cater treatment to the type, location, and extent of the crack. The sooner your tooth is treated, the better the outcome. Once treated, most cracked teeth continue to function as they should, for many years of pain-free biting and chewing.

WHAT IS A TRAUMATIC DENTAL INJURY?

Traumatic dental injuries often occur as a result of an accident or sports injury. The majority of these injuries are minor – such as chipped teeth. It’s less common to dislodge your tooth or have it knocked completely out, but these injuries are more severe. Treatment depends on the type, location and severity of each injury. Regardless of the extent of the injury, your tooth requires immediate examination by an endodontist. Sometimes, your neighboring teeth suffer an additional, unnoticed injury that can only be detected by a thorough dental exam.

REASONS A TRAUMATIC INJURY SHOULD BE EVALUATED:

To mitigate the need for root canal therapy or tooth loss.

HOW WE CAN HELP:

Endodontists specialize in treating traumatic dental injuries. With our advanced skills, techniques and technologies we often can save injured teeth. We offer tremendous flexibility in accommodating emergency cases. You’ll have relief from your pain and likely save your tooth, so act as quickly as possible.