What Are Common Endodontic Treatments?

Endodontic comes from two Greek words; ”Endo”, meaning “inside”, and “odont”, meaning “tooth”, so an endodontic treatment denotes any treatment which targets the soft pulp tissue inside our teeth. A doctor who treats endodontic issues is called an endodontist, and s/he treats infections, damages, and diseases of the insides of our teeth. 

All dentists receive training on how to diagnose issues of the insides of our teeth, but some teeth can be highly complicated to diagnose or treat. In such cases, one would need the special expertise of an endodontist. Endodontic procedures clean up infections and save our teeth. 

In this article, we will learn more about some of the most common endodontic treatments.

What Is The Role Of An Endodontist?

According to AAE (American Association of Endodontists), endodontists complete an additional one or two years of training over their usual dental school course.

• The additional course focuses on diagnosing the root cause of tooth pain and understanding root canal treatment.
• They also learn other specialized procedures that concern the interior of our teeth.
• Not all of us would need the type of dentistry that involves endodontic procedures. In case you have a severely damaged or decayed tooth, you might need the expertise of an endodontist.
• A general dentist helps us maintain healthy teeth and gums, but if your teeth roots have a serious disease, only an endodontist can cure it.

When Would I Need An Endodontist?

Most tooth root problems arise due to poor oral hygiene. Bacteria will invade your mouth if you are not brushing and flossing as regularly as recommended by your dentist.

• If the decay on the surface of the tooth is not treated in time, it will penetrate deeper layers of our teeth.
• This infection could destroy the root and pulp of the affected tooth.
• If it is still not treated, it could even pervade other areas of your mouth and could get into the bloodstream, and affect other body parts and organs.
• If you face an injury, you might need to go to an endodontist’s office. A hard blow or biting into a hard object can cause trauma to the tooth and crack or break it.

Some of the Common Endodontic Procedures

Our teeth have an outer hard enamel (the hardest substance in our bodies) and a softer inner tissue which is termed dental pulp. This includes the nerves and blood vessels that anchor our teeth in their place in our jaws. 

When we have infections or injuries, the interior pulp can get affected, which could cause issues that could lead to tooth loss. Endodontics procedures can save such a tooth through various treatment options ranging from simple to complex ones that could take several hours.

• Root canal treatment – Under the endodontics umbrella, a root canal is the most common procedure. Your dentist would use a root canal to save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp (the core layer of our tooth) or the canal that holds the pulp is infected or inflamed. 

The infection is primarily due to cavities, cracks, or fractures. This treatment effectively removes infected and inflamed tooth pulp and cleanses cavities or fractures that are the cause of pain and infection. During the treatment, your dentist would do the following:

• Remove the pulp and thoroughly cleanse and disinfect the root canals.
• Seal the tooth with special dental material.
• Your dentist might additionally plan for a dental crown to protect the treated tooth and send your tooth’s impression to the dental lab.
• Surgical endodontics or Apicoectomy – In general, root canal therapy can take care of decayed teeth, but sometimes it might not be enough. In such cases, a surgical procedure called apicoectomy is required to save the tooth. 

This procedure needs an experienced endodontist for removing the tip of the tooth’s root and sealing it. See the below-mentioned steps to more about the procedure:

• The endodontist would make an incision in the gum tissues to expose the bone underneath.
• Then, a small opening is made in the bone right at the tip of the root to reveal the infection.
• The dentist would then clean the infected tissue and the root tip.
• The root is then sealed with a dental filling.
• Lastly, the dentist would place sutures to hold the gum tissues in place.
• Treating cracked teeth – Cracked teeth is an all-encompassing word, and several conditions reside under this umbrella. Your dental professional would examine your teeth to find out which category of cracked teeth it belongs to. Some of the different types of cracked teeth are craze lines, split teeth, vertical root fractures, fractured cusps, and an actual crack in the tooth. 

Your dentist would decide the type of treatment required based on which category of cracked-teeth does your affected tooth fall under. Various options for repairing a cracked tooth include fillings, endodontic surgery, crowns, or in some cases; an extraction might be the only option. Any crack in a tooth has to be treated else bacteria will enter the pulp and spread infection.

• Dental implant preparation – When you lose a tooth, you often get an implant done for the missing tooth. But before this step arises, your periodontist and endodontist might consult to decide if an implant is the most effective procedure for your case. An endodontist would do an X-ray of your teeth to find the extent and severity of the case. You might first need to get a root canal done to see if the tooth can be saved.

If you have a severe tooth condition, only an endodontist can treat it as they have specialized training in treating the interior of a tooth (pulp and root canal); if you notice any symptoms of infection, speak to your dentist as early intervention can increase chances of saving your tooth.