Root Canal Treatment

If you are looking for a knowledgeable and compassionate endodontist in Suntree, Florida, look no further, Brevard Endodontics offers a stellar team and extraordinary endodontic care! Our team continually strives to provide the best quality treatment accompanied by leading patient care. Root canals are performed routinely, with 15 million performed annually, in the United States alone. This treatment can prevent the need for bridges or dental implants by saving your natural teeth. Root canals can also save you from the effects of a variety of oral health issues, pain and can even save you money in the long run.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is an endodontic procedure involving the removal of the infected or inflamed soft center of a tooth. The soft center of the tooth is referred to as pulp, which consists of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. Before any procedure begins, our team will ensure you are comfortable and relaxed, we understand that seeing a dentist or endodontist for any procedure can cause nerves to go awry. After measures are taken to ensure you are relaxed, comfortable, and understand the procedure, we will begin the root canal therapy. First, a small hole is drilled through the outer hard layers of the tooth, known as enamel and dentin, so the pulp chamber can be easily accessed by your endodontist. Next, the inflamed or infected pulp (nerve) is removed, along with any debris or other infected pulp remnants. The now empty canal space is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected using files that work by scrubbing the inside of the root canals clean. Throughout the cleaning process, the canal system and pulp chamber are flushed with disinfectants, this is a painless process due to anesthetic administered prior to the procedure. The process is completed with the root canal(s) being filled with an inert biocompatible material, typically gutta-percha and a sealing paste

After the root canal, further restoration of the tooth is usually required. Most commonly a crown is placed over the natural tooth. The crown or other type of restoration will serve as the new protective layer for your natural tooth. Further restoration will also help to keep the teeth properly aligned.

Here is a more in depth look into the anatomy of the tooth. Below the surface is a fascinating system of hard and soft tissues, nerves, and blood vessels.

Enamel - This is the hard, outer layer of the tooth, and is the first and main defense for cavity resistance.

Dentin - This layer is found just below the enamel and essentially functions as a supportive layer to the enamel. Dentin has less mineral content than enamel, making it less brittle than the enamel. In addition, dentin also serves a vital role in transmitting impulses from both the root of the tooth to the pulp chamber or from the enamel to the pulp chamber. This allows vital nutrients the tooth needs to thrive to be distributed throughout the tooth.

Pulp - This is the soft center part of your tooth, consisting of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When the pulp is inflamed or infected, root canal treatment is often required. One root canal treatment has been completed, the soft pulp is no longer present, and is replaced by a filling material.

Periodontal Ligament - The periodontal ligament is what attaches the natural tooth to the jaw itself and holds each tooth in the correct position. When a tooth becomes inflamed, the periodontal ligament can also become inflamed, which often causes pain to any type of pressure on the tooth.

Signs You Need a Root Canal

The most obvious sign that you may need root canal treatment is pain. The pain can start after eating/drink or spontaneously, like in the middle of the night. Often, a patient who requires a root canal will have tooth pain that turns into a severe headache. Other symptoms to pay attention to include swollen and inflamed gums, sensitivity, bumps on the gums (known as a sinus tract) or a cracked or broken tooth.

Root canal treatment is not always necessary, but if you need treatment Brevard Endodontics of Melbourne, Florida will treat you with the utmost care and compassion and work hard to alleviate your pain and save your natural tooth. Saving the natural tooth whenever possible is the best option for not only oral health but overall health as well.

We are here to assist in alleviating your pain. Call or contact us today for an appointment. Emergency appointments are also available.