WHAT IS ENDODONTIC THERAPY ?
“Endo” is Greek word for “inside” and “odont” is
Greek for “tooth.”  Endodontic therapy is that specialty of dentistry devoted
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF
ENDODONTIC THERAPY ?
Endodontic therapy saves teeth that would Otherwise
be extracted. There is no real substitute for your own tooth for
efficient biting and chewing.
THE MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT
ENDODONTIC THERAPY
1. What caused the problem in my tooth ?
The most common cause of pulp damage is tooth
decay when it exposes the dental pulp to bacterial infection.
Other causes of pulp damage include traumatic injury, such as
those that occur from blows to a tooth in a fight for or
automobile accidents, repeated filling in a tooth and periodontal
or gum disease.
2. How many appointments are necessary for Endodontic treatment
?
Complete treatment averages 1-2 one hour appointments.
However, we make every effort to complete treatment in one
appointment
3. How long will the tooth last after treatment
?
While there is no absolute certainty concerning healing of body
tissues, we expect healing to occur in approximately 95% of the
cases treated. The tooth may become slightly more brittle
following endodontic treatment but with proper restoration and
care such as brushing and flossing, the tooth can last a longtime.
4. Is Endodontic treatment painful ?
With modern techniques and anesthetics, endodontic
therapy usually involves little or no pain. Often patients come
into our office in pain before treatment is initiated and such
pain is usually relieved following endodontic therapy?
5. Will there be pain after the treatment ?
Cleaning and shaping of the root canals may on
occasion cause inflammation at the root end but
pain arising from such inflammation can usually
be alleviated by the use of over-the-counter pain medications.
While these rare reactions may prolong
treatment, they do not change the chances of
success. Please contact our office if you
experience pain beyond this level. Our
telephone is answered 24 hours a day either
by our staff or our answering service.
HOW IS ENDODONTIC THERAPY PERFORMED ?  An examination, including x-rays, is performed. A local
anesthesia is given and a device called rubber dam
is placed over the tooth to isolate and keep the tooth dry and
clean during treatment. An opening is made on the biting surface
of the tooth. See Figure 1
The pulp is removed from the pulp chamber and root canals.
Instruments called files are used to clean and shape the canals so
they can easily be filled. Medication may be
placed in the canals and an antibiotic may be prescribed if the
tooth is infected. A temporary filling is placed in the opening to
protect the tooth between appointments
See Figure 2
When root canal preparation is completed, the root canals are
sealed with materials that prevent bacterial re-entry and growth.
An x-ray is usually taken to confirm complete root canal filling.
The opening is then sealed with a temporary filling. See
Figure 3
A post is cemented into your root canal to build up your tooth
after root canal therapy. A crown is
cemented on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.
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