Endodontics in Saskatoon
What is an Endodontist and what do they do?
Endodontists are dentists who specialize in maintaining teeth through endodontic therapy — procedures, involving the soft inner tissue of the teeth, called the pulp. The word “endodontic” comes from “endo,” which means inside, and “odont,” which means tooth. All dentists are trained in diagnosis and endodontics in Saskatoon therapy; however, some teeth can be especially difficult to diagnose and treat. That’s why you may have been referred to an endodontic specialist.
In addition to dental school, endodontists receive two or more years of advanced education in this kind of treatment. They study root canal techniques and procedures in greater depth, for the diagnosis and treatment of more difficult cases. For this reason, many dentists choose to refer their patients to endodontists.
What Happens During Endodontic Treatment? (What is a Root Canal?)
A local anesthetic will be given. A sheet of latex called the “rubber dam” (we’ve got nonlatex ones too) will be placed around the tooth to isolate it, hence keeping it clean and dry during treatment. The treatment consists of three or four basic steps, but the number of visits will depend on your particular case. Some treatments take 2 visits, but many are just a single visit. Occasionally, 3 appointments are needed.
In any case, the number of visits depends on how much infection or inflammation there is and how complex the treatment may be. What matters most is doing the procedure as thoroughly and carefully as possible, rather than trying to fit it into a set timeframe. Here’s a quick look at the basic steps involved in nonsurgical root canal treatment.
There are, of course, no guarantees. Root canal or endodontics in Saskatoon has a very high degree of success, up to 90%. Teeth which can be treated near-ideally have a success rate up to ninety percent! We will discuss with you the chances of success before any endodontic procedure to help you make an informed decision. If a root canal or endodontic therapy is unsuccessful or fails, you still have options.
Diagnoses and Treats Pain
Oral pain, such as toothaches or cracked/fractured teeth, can often be difficult to pinpoint. Because of the vast network of nerves in the mouth, the pain of a damaged or diseased tooth is often felt in another tooth and/or in the head, neck, or ear. An endodontist near you is a specialist in diagnosing and treating this type of pain.
Treats Traumatic Injuries
Pulp damage is sometimes caused by a blow to the mouth, and the endodontist specializes in treating these traumatic injuries. For example, a blow to a child’s permanent tooth that is not fully developed can cause the root to stop growing. A procedure called apexification stimulates bone to be deposited at the end of the root, which makes it possible to then save the tooth through a root canal procedure. An endodontist is specially trained in procedures for replanting teeth that have been knocked out of their sockets.
Will I need to return to your clinic for Additional Visits?
Once endodontics in Saskatoon therapy is completed, your tooth should be examined periodically, usually every 6 – 12 months. This allows us to make sure the tooth has healed or is healing properly. You will be sent a notice in the mail when we feel it is appropriate to re-evaluate the area. Since an abscess may take 2 years to heal, our clinic will re-evaluate the tooth for at least 2 years.
Retreatment
Occasionally, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment fails to heal, or pain continues despite therapy. Although rare, sometimes a tooth initially responds to root canal therapy but becomes painful or diseased. When either of these situations occurs, the tooth often can be maintained with a second endodontic treatment
* All dental services offered at Saskatoon Smiles are provided by general dentists at each location.