Endodontist In San Ramon

WHAT A PATIENT SHOULD EXPECT AT THEIR FIRST VISIT!

The first dental consultation at our San Ramon endodontics office will be used to determine the best course of treatment. We encourage you to take this time to get to know our staff, dentists, and endodontist by asking questions and letting them know any of your concerns, which will allow them to come up with the best dental treatment plan.

While dentists take care of their patient’s general oral health, an Endodontist’s goal is to save the natural tooth. Endodontists are dental professionals with 2 or more years of special postgraduate training outside of the already required dental school. They focus on problems concerning the dental pulp, or nerve of the tooth, which is located at the root. This area is very sensitive and if it ever gets infected, it can become inflamed, leaving a dental abscess on the gum of the tooth. In more severe cases, if the infection spreads, the tooth could be lost. That’s why we’re here – to make sure that doesn’t happen!

Our Endodontists are experienced in performing root canal procedures efficiently and swiftly. If your regular dentist assesses your oral issue and believes root canal therapy is necessary, our Endodontics team will get started with treatment as quickly as possible.

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 endodontist first examines and x-rays the tooth at your initial visit, then administers local anesthetic. After the tooth is numb, the endodontist 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 dental procedure.

The endodontist makes a small opening in the crown of the tooth. Very small dental instruments are used to clean the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals and to shape the space for filling.

After the space is cleaned and shaped, the endodontist fills the root canals with a biocompatible material. In most cases, a temporary filling is placed to close the opening. The temporary filling will be removed by your dental team before the tooth is restored. After the final visit with your endodontist, you must return to your dentistry team to have a crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.

Apexification

In apexification, the unhealthy pulp tissue is removed. The pediatric dental office 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 endodontist numbs the gums around the affected tooth, and then creates a small hole to gain access to the pulp. The infected pulp is removed from the root canal and the canals are cleaned. Medication is placed into the canal and the tooth is temporarily sealed. 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 return to your regular dentist and orthodontic office to have the tooth restored.

Apicoectomy

An apicoectomy may be needed when an infection develops or won’t go away after root canal treatment or retreatment. In an apicoectomy, the root tip, or apex, is removed along with the infected tissue. To complete the apicoectomy, the endodontist 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 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 to save the tooth.

Therapeutic Pulpotomy

A therapeutic pulpotomy, better known as a “baby root canal,” removes part of a tooth’s pulp, 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 tooth before it is ready to fall out can alter the way permanent teeth come in.

If the pulp of a permanent tooth becomes injured or decayed soon after it emerges, the tooth may require root canal treatment. However, root canal treatment is not done until the tooth’s roots are finished growing. In this case, a pulpotomy can be done instead. Root canal treatment can be done after the roots finish developing.

What is Endodontics? 

Endodontic therapy, also known as root canal therapy, is a treatment of an infected or inflamed tooth. The treatment is carried out in the pulp or nerve of the tooth. The pulp is important during a tooth’s growth and development. However, once a tooth is fully mature it can survive without the pulp because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it. After endodontic therapy the patient will no longer feel any pain in that tooth because the nerve tissue has been removed and the infection has been eradicated.

Symptoms 

Though some people may not have symptoms, the most common 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, make an appointment with your dentist and orthodontic office in San Ramon, CA and they will diligently evaluate your oral care upon your next visit.

Why see an Endodontist? 

Endodontic treatment 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 pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal (a channel inside the root) then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will visit your dentist, who will place a crown or other restorative care solution on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.

Home Care

You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until it has been restored by the dental team. The unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture, so you should see the dentist for a full restoration and general dental care as soon as possible. Otherwise, you need only practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings. For the first few days after dental treatment, the tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow the endodontist’s instructions carefully. The tooth may continue to feel slightly different from the other teeth 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 to set up an appointment.

Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. In a few cases, a tooth 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 endodontic dental procedure might be needed.

It’s our first priority that your children receive the proper care from us at their next pediatric dentist office visit. It’s also important to us that all patients know how to perform the proper oral care while at home if unable to visit us at our pediatric dentist office in a timely manner. 

Dental Emergencies

If you think you may have an Endodontic emergency visit your dentist, or call us at our office in San Ramon, CA for an appointment to prevent disease and receive the best oral care possible.