The dental root canal procedure has changed over the course of its history. The American Association of Endodontists officially changed the name to root canal therapy to reflect how much it has changed. Cynics say that it's just a way to fight the bad name the procedure has garnered but, while the basic concept remains the same, the procedure has grown with technology. Dentists have adapted state of the art dentistry with a number of tools to quickly and efficiently do this procedure.
A dental root canal requires patience, preparation and understanding. It often requires several visits although many can be done in just one visit. This difference is due to several factors. Some teeth have more roots than others, and some people have teeth with more roots than is common and certain root structures are more complex than others. How long it takes to finish the work is largely dependent on individual anatomy. How long the procedure takes in not necessarily a reflection of the skill of the dentist. But to speed the process we use state of the art equipment such as; high torque handpieces used with titanium root canal files, sonar instrumentation and even digital x-ray.
A dental root canal is part of a field of endodontics. Endo- means inside and -dontics means teeth, so endodontics treats the inside of teeth. It's possible because the pulp inside the tooth is not vital to the life of the tooth. Any infection inside the tooth can be cleaned out. To strengthen the tooth the pulp is replaced while the rest of the tooth is nourished by the surrounding gums. Once the inside of the tooth is cleaned out gutta percha is used to fill in the space and a dental crown is placed on top of the tooth. Once this is done the full function of the tooth will be restored.
While some people may still have some fear about a dental root canal, the alternatives are not much better. If you have a tooth extraction you must replace the gap with a bridge, dental partial or dental implant. These can be expensive procedures and with a number of potential drawbacks. A bridge can over-stress the adjacent teeth causing failure. Partials can create problems for your gums and implants, while strong and long lasting, are expensive and not everyone is a candidate. Our dentists are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being and you are welcome to join our family of patients. If you would like to make an appointment with Dr. Jeffrey Stephen Smith, our root canal dentist, call 404-874-7428.
