Endodontist In Citrus Heights
What To Expect At Your First Endodontics Visit With Our Citrus Heights Office!
The first dental consultation in Citrus Heights will be used to determine the best course of dental treatment using a clinical examination which may include x-rays. We encourage you to take this time to get to know our highly trained dental staff, dentists, and endodontists by asking questions and letting them know any of your concerns, which will also allow them to come up with the best dental treatment plan.
Endodontic treatment is the best way to save teeth. Once they are restored, they can function just like any other. Saving the natural tooth should always be the first choice when dental care is needed. If you have any questions regarding your dental appointment with our dentist or endodontist, please feel free to contact us at our office. We also offers a variety of dental services such as oral surgery, orthodontics, and general dentistry issues.
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Common Questions Our Endodontist Gets Asked
How long does a root canal take?
On average, most root canals are short and only require 1 appointment that can last between 30 and 60 minutes. If the infection is really bad, there may be a need for 2 appointments or take up to an hour and a half.
Is my child too young for a root canal?
Not necessarily! If your child has a damaged or infected tooth that requires endodontic services, then a root canal may be necessary. Root canals can be done at any age and on either baby teeth or adult teeth. Although baby teeth are meant to fall out, they need to stay in long enough to prevent future speech issues or bite problems. If your child needs root canal therapy done on a baby tooth, this will save the natural tooth and keep it secure until it is ready to fall out on its own at the appropriate time.
How do I prepare my child for a root canal?
Our pediatric dentistry knows that a root canal procedure may seem daunting for both an adult and a child, but we are here to relieve any fears you may have. Our team is extremely experienced when it comes to root canal therapy and is happy to walk your child through the steps of treatment in order to help them feel safer.
Root Canals
Root canals can be performed on all the teeth. The dental staff examines and x-rays your teeth, then administers a local anesthetic. After the area is numb, the endodontics team places a small protective sheet called a “dental dam” over the area to isolate the tooth and keep it clean and free of saliva during the dentistry procedure.
The endodontist then makes a small opening in the crown. Very small dental instruments are used to clean the pulp chamber and root canals and to shape the space for filling.
After the space is cleaned and shaped, the staff fills the root canals with a biocompatible dental material. In most cases, a temporary dental filling is placed to close the opening. The temporary dental filling will be removed by your dentist before the tooth is restored. After the final dental visit with one of the endodontists, you must return to your dentist to have a crown or other restoration placed on to protect and restore it to full function.
Apexification
In apexification, the unhealthy pulp tissue is removed. The endodontics team will place medication into the root canal to create a hard tissue formation near the root tip. This hardened tissue creates a calcific barrier at the root end, allowing the root canal to be sealed.
The dental team numbs the gums around the affected area, and then creates a small hole to gain access to the chamber. The infected area is removed from the root canal and the canals are cleaned. Medication is placed into the canal, temporarily sealing the area. The medication is surgically replaced every two to four months, though this can vary among individuals.
After the root end has formed, dental treatment is finished, which means you can make a dental appointment with your regular dentist to have the tooth restored.
Apicoectomy
An apicoectomy may be needed when an infection develops or won’t go away after root canal dental treatment or retreatment. In an apicoectomy, the root tip, or apex, is removed along with the infected tissue. To complete the apicoectomy, the endodontics team will clean and seal the end of the tooth’s canal.
Apexogenesis
This dental procedure, also called “open and medicate,” encourages the root to continue teeth development as the pulp is healed. Soft tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth. The tip of the root (apex) will continue to close, in turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals, no additional dental treatment will be necessary. The more mature the root becomes, the better the chance it can be saved.
Therapeutic Pulpotomy
A therapeutic pulpotomy, better known as a “baby root canal,” removes part of a tooth’s pulp chamber, the center of the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. The part that is removed is inside the crown.
This dental procedure can be done in children’s baby teeth or in young permanent ones. In primary teeth, the dental procedure is done to keep the primary tooth from being removed. Extracting a primary before it is ready to fall out can alter the way permanent teeth come in.
If this chamber of a permanent tooth becomes injured or decayed soon after it emerges, it may require a root canal. However, root canal dental treatment is not done until the roots are finished growing. In this case, a pulpotomy can be done instead. Root canal dental treatment can be done after the roots finish developing.
What is Endodontics Care?
Endodontic therapy, also known as root canal therapy, is a dentistry procedure of an infected or inflamed tooth. The dental procedure is carried out in the nerve or pulp chamber of the tooth. This area is important during a tooth’s growth and overall dental development. However, once a tooth is fully mature it can survive without the chamber because it continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it. After endodontic therapy the patient will no longer feel any pain in that area because the nerve tissue has been removed and the infection has been eradicated.
Patient Symptoms
Though some people may not have symptoms, the most common dental signs to look for are pain such as a tooth that is very sensitive to temperature changes, tenderness to touch and chewing, discoloration of the tooth, swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as bone and gingival tissues. If you’re unsure, it’s best to be evaluated by your dentist.
Why see an Endodontist?
Endodontic care is the best way to save a natural tooth. The tooth is restored and can function just like any other tooth. Saving the natural tooth should always be the first choice when dental care is needed.
The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected chamber, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal (a channel inside the root) then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.
Home Care Advice From Our Dentists
You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until it has been restored by the dentist. The unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture, so you should see the dentist for a full restoration as soon as possible. Otherwise, you need only practice good dental hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings. For the first few days after the dentistry procedure, the tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the dental procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. The tooth may continue to feel slightly different for some time after the endodontic treatment is completed. However, if there is severe pain or pressure pain that lasts more than a few days, call your endodontist at our Citrus Heights, CA office.
Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. In a few cases, one that has undergone endodontic care does not heal or the pain continues. Occasionally, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful dental treatment. Often when this occurs, redoing the dentistry procedure might be needed.
Citrus Heights Dental Emergencies
If you think you may have an Endodontic emergency see your endodontist, or call our office for an appointment.
