When Should I See an Endodontist?

Make an appointment with your endodontist if you’re having dental discomfort, have damaged your tooth, are sensitive to heat or cold, and/or there’s swelling around your teeth, gums, or cheeks.

Inflammation or infection of the pulp inside the root canal needs endodontic treatment. A cracked or chipped tooth can cause inflammation or infection if it has deep decay or repeated dental procedures.

General dentists and endodontists both provide dental care, but they do so in different ways. It is the job of an endodontist to perform root canals. In contrast to dentists, endodontists treat tooth pain by cutting, filling, and sealing cavities. Besides root canals, dental treatment alternatives include pulpotomies, pulpectomies, endodontic retreatments, endodontic surgery, tooth extractions, dental implants, bridges, and dentures. Practicing good oral hygiene, going for regular dental checkups, avoiding foods rich in sugar, and avoiding drinks and foods rich in acid and starch can help you avoid root canal treatment and other alternatives.

All dentists are endodontists, yet less than 3% of dentists are endodontists. Specialists in endodontics have completed additional training beyond dental school, just as doctors in any other highly specialized field do. They are trained to diagnose tooth pain, perform root canal treatments, and other procedures related to tooth interiors. It is possible to save a diseased tooth with endodontic treatment in many cases. For this reason, endodontists are considered specialists in saving teeth.

The pulp of a tooth is removed during a root canal. After the root canals are cleaned and disinfected, the tooth’s inside is cleansed and sanitized. Consequently, a crown is affixed to facilitate the repair of the impaired tooth.

The experience of having a root canal has developed a reputation as being unpleasant. Most of the time, they aren’t more painful than other types of dental procedures. Regardless, there are alternative options to root canals in some cases for those who desire them.

The procedure of direct pulp capping can be used to handle serious damage or decomposition that makes the pulp visible. You may be recommended this option by your dentist as a way to prevent future root canals and tooth extractions.

The pulp is removed during a pulpotomy. When deterioration has revealed the pulp or damage to the tooth, direct pulp capping can be performed.

A tooth extraction involves removing the entire tooth. In some cases, this procedure is also referred to as tooth pulling.

When teeth are severely decayed or damaged, an extraction may be necessary. In many cases, your dentist determines that this cannot be repaired using other methods, such as root canals.

A root canal usually falls under the category of emergency dentistry. When left untreated, tooth infections can cause serious complications, including the death of the infected tooth. Sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection, can be caused by tooth infections in rare cases.

If possible, a root canal should be used to treat the infection as soon as possible to avoid these complications.

The outer tooth is often weakened by a root canal. An outer tooth will crumble if it is not reinforced with a crown after a root canal because a large part of its structure is removed.

The teeth at the front of the mouth are not subjected to the stress of chewing and grinding like the molars. This is why they only require a filling after root canals. It may not be necessary to crown a molar that is relatively intact after a root canal. In most cases, a filling will be adequate for restoring a tooth with a healthy structure.

Root canals are available at Ace Endodontics. We are conveniently located at 11980 San Vicente Blvd Ste 900 Los Angeles, CA 90049. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We serve patients from Brentwood CA, Santa Monica CA, West Los Angeles CA, Beverly Hills CA, West Hollywood CA, Venice CA, Culver City CA, and surrounding areas.