Endodontics Q & A

What is endodontics?

Your teeth aren’t just solid bone all the way through. Underneath the enamel and dentin is a soft inside portion called the pulp, which includes soft tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. The pulp feeds your tooth as it erupts and grows, but permanent adult teeth don’t need their pulp to survive. 

Endodontics refers to root canal therapy and other treatments for the pulp within your teeth. Your provider makes a hole in the tooth to access the injured or infected pulp during a root canal treatment. They remove the pulp through the hole before sanitizing all of the canals inside the tooth. 

Once the pulp and all traces of bacteria and tissue are out, your endodontist fills and seals the tooth with a supportive rubbery material. They may place a custom same-day crown on the tooth for extra support during a later appointment.  

When do I need endodontics?

Endodontics treats issues with the pulp, including inflammation from an impact injury or an infection caused by bacteria getting inside the tooth through a crack. When either of these circumstances happens, severe symptoms can be the result. You should contact J Park Dental for an endodontic consultation if you experience:

• Tooth pain

• Tooth sensitivity

• Pimples on the gums

• Dark tooth discoloration

• Visible inflammation on the gums

Some of these symptoms have other possible causes, so the team performs a full evaluation before recommending endodontic treatment. Infection of the pulp in a tooth can pose serious problems if you don’t treat it, so it’s important to come to the dentist quickly after noticing symptoms. 

What happens if root canal therapy doesn’t fix my endodontic issue?

Root canal therapy can remedy most pulp infections and inflammation, but a few cases redevelop after a root canal. A root canal cannot be performed for various reasons in other cases. 

Apicoectomy is a procedure to get in place of a root canal or treat a tooth after you’ve already gotten a root canal. Your oral surgeon removes the tip of the root of the tooth through an incision in the gums. 

Another option, called intentional replantation, involves the removal of the whole tooth before your dentist cleans the tooth and secures it back in place. Additional options are available if neither of these surgeries is right for you. 

Find out more about endodontics and treatment options by scheduling an appointment over the phone or online at J Park Dental today.