Uncategorized

Don’t believe the stereotype of popular culture that refers to a “root canal” like it’s the ultimate painful experience. Performed by a specialist, it is just the opposite, a painless way to end dental pain.

A painful tooth could start with a cavity, but it could also be due to an accident, infection, or dead tooth nerve. Signs of deeper trouble in the root might include the sensitivity of the tooth to hot or cold, a persistent toothache, pain when you chew on the tooth, or tenderness of the gums around it. Your general dentist will usually do the initial diagnosis of the problem and if it appears to be infection inside the tooth, she or he should refer you to an endodontist (a mouthful that means a highly-trained expert in going to the root of the pain).

The outer shell of a tooth is the hard enamel, all we can see. But underneath is the dentin, which surrounds and protects an inner layer of soft tissue known as the pulp, which consists of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. The pulp provides nourishment through its canals or roots to the tooth while it is growing, but these hollow channels can get infected when they longer have that function.

Step 1: The area receives a topical anesthetic to make it numb enough so that you will not feel the anesthetic injection that follows (there is also the option of breathing nitrous oxide to help relax).

Step 2: A dental “dam” (a thin sheet of rubber or vinyl) is placed over the area to keep it sterile, with the infected tooth poking through.

Step 3:A small hole is drilled into the tooth, to provide access to the pulp and root canals for treatment.

Step 4: Special instruments are used to remove the dead or dying pulp, stopping the pain.

Step 5: The canals are disinfected with special solutions.

Step 6: They are then shaped so that they can be filled with materials to prevent future infection.

Step 7: A plastic material usually is used to fill the space. If the tooth structure seems weak, a post may be placed inside, as well. The canal is then sealed.

Step 8: The access hole that was drilled is filled and the dental dam removed.

Step 9: An antibiotic will be prescribed. If over-the-counter medications for the usual mild soreness do not seem adequate, a codeine-type drug might be prescribed, as well.

Final Optional Step: A crown, which looks like an artificial tooth, may later be placed on top of the natural tooth to protect it and restore functionality.

 If you are in serious tooth pain call today to have its root cause diagnosed and treated.

Teeth are responsible for helping you with your chewing, speaking, and smiling, but what other interesting facts exist about your teeth? Here are more fascinating facts that show why teeth are important and deserve to be taken care of. 

Teeth Maintenance and Cleaning Have Existed for Centuries

The first toothbrushes consisted of twigs that our human ancestors chewed on. At around 5,000 B.C., the Ancient Egyptians used crushed eggshells and ground animal hooves to function as cleaning devices for their teeth. In the 18th century, a British designer created a bone handle with boar bristles inserted into small holes and secured with wire. Modern toothbrushes then came about in the 1930s, with the electric one making its debut in 1954. 

Many scientists can determine many things about humans by analyzing their teeth. Observations of teeth can help scientists determine how old we are, what we eat, and drink — even where we have lived. Our teeth also indicate a lot about our overall health, including periods of stress or illness we have experienced. 

Teeth are Unique

Whether they are baby teeth or adult teeth, no two teeth are exactly the same shape and size. Each tooth in your mouth has its own unique shape and position, and they can vary greatly from person to person. 

Your Teeth Structure is Determined at Birth

For newborn babies, the crowns of their first 20 teeth are already present under the gums, and they will grow into place over time – this process can start between 3 to 6 months of age. Through the period of childhood, the crowns and roots of adult teeth are already forming under baby teeth, which will push the existing teeth out of the way.

Cleaning Below Teeth is Important as Well

When we brush our teeth, the tops and sides are easily the most reachable areas. However,  the surfaces between those areas require a proper amount of cleaning and attention as well. This is why it’s best to clean between your teeth daily to remove any unreachable food or bacteria between the teeth.

As many hospital rooms see high patient numbers, endodontist offices remain open for dental emergencies as well as for those affected by serious tooth pain or other oral health related emergencies. In such cases, these emergencies can be helped with endodontic treatment.

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals and emergency rooms are experiencing high numbers of patients seeking immediate care, this increases the waiting times for patients in need. This also creates shortages for other medical equipment and staff. 

To help reduce the number of ER and Urgent Care admitted patients, it is recommended that patients first contact an endodontist for emergency oral care needs.  If you are experiencing severe dental pain, dental infection symptoms such as bleeding or a dental infection-related fever, please contact New York City Endodontics immediately, we service the areas of Brooklyn, Hoboken, Manhattan, Queens, Jersey City, Fort Lee, and more. 

Endodontists are tooth pain and root canal treatment specialists trained who can diagnose and address issues associated with tooth pain. The endodontists’ role during this period is to help treat tooth pain, manage oral infections, and reduce the immediate need for patients to seek emergency dental or oral healthcare at ER or urgent care locations.

COVID-19 has now reached every corner of the globe and the WHO has officially declared it a pandemic. Unfortunately, the virus can be more severe for certain groups of patients. The mortality rate is significantly higher for the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.

Those who are immunocompromised are also at great risk. Immunocompromised patients are anyone that has a weakened immune system. The coronavirus is very dangerous for this group of patients, since their immune systems may not be able to keep up the fight.

A person doesn’t necessarily have to have a diagnosis to be classified as immunocompromised. For example, any of the following criteria could indicate that someone has a weak immune system compared to the average in a population:

1. People above the age of 60
2. Anyone on specific medications or treatment plans that involve steroids, radiation or chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, bone marrow transplants, and organ transplants
3. Anyone with chronic conditions or diseases such as heart disease, lung disease, cancer, diabetes, malnutrition, or any other serious ailment

If you meet any of these criteria, then you should take extra precautions during this pandemic.

Keep your care or treatment appointments

Continue to keep your scheduled appointments, particularly if you are in the middle of a delicate treatment such as chemotherapy. Make sure your physician is aware of your immunocompromised state, so you may work out appropriate precautions.

During your appointments, minimize your exposure to others as much as possible. Practice social distancing when outside and avoid unnecessary travel. If at all possible, the best option is to use tele-health services. If you usually have a caregiver, friend, or family that accompanies you to these appointments, then make sure they are not sick or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

Ask your friends and family to help

Ask your caregiver, friends, or family to run errands on your behalf as much as possible to lessen your risk of being exposed to COVID-19. Keep in mind that people can carry the virus even if they aren’t showing symptoms, so it’s important to limit your exposure to anyone outside your immediate household. Ask your caregivers to deliver groceries to your door but leave them outside instead of handing them directly to you. Also consider stockpiling extra reserves of critical medication in case it’s too dangerous to venture outside or there are lockdown measures in effect.

As always, wash your hands frequently and limit face-to-face social interaction. These two measures are the simplest, most effective tactics you can employ to avoid COVID-19. If you experience any coronavirus symptoms such as headaches, a fever, or a persistent dry cough, contact a medical professional immediately.

As far as keeping our dental health in check is concerned, we now have more options than ever before. This is why it is so important to understand your choices and the impact they can have on your lifestyle and dental health. Knowing the different terms and concepts related to your dental well-being is crucial to managing your oral health. 

This includes knowing who endodontics are, what is a root canal, and so on.

Endodontists are professionals who possess special training with regards to diagnosing and treating facial and oral pain, as well as the problems associated with the inner area of your tooth. It’s by completing four years of school and two or more years of advanced training in endodontics that you can become an endodontist. If you experience symptoms such as oral or facial swelling, tooth sensitivity to chewing and touch, and long-drawn sensitivity to heat and cold, then chances are that you might require endodontic treatment, such as root canals and the like. 

The treatment of root canal is needed when the soft tissue inside your tooth, which is known as the pulp, gets inflamed or infected due to decay, injury, constant procedures, or perhaps a chipped or cracked tooth. Although replacing an extracted tooth is possible in the form of an implant or bridgework, losing your natural teeth is obviously something you want to prevent from happening. 

Let us now take a look at some intriguing facts related to root canals, provided by The American Association of Endodontists (AAE):

• A recent survey from AAE stated that 76% of the participants preferred a root canal over tooth extraction.
• Many individuals are not even aware of root canals being a possible alternative to tooth extraction.
• Almost one-third of the individuals would not sell their healthy front tooth regardless of how much money was being offered to them.
• The possibility of a tooth extraction is more in women than men.
• The chances of older people getting a tooth extraction done is more in comparison to younger people.
• Artificial teeth can affect your ability to chew and consume certain food items that are necessary to have a healthy and balanced diet.
• 58% of those who got a tooth extraction done chose to not replace it with anything, and the remaining replaced it with a bridge (17%), dentures (12%), or an implant (8%).

A root canal treatment is done to save a heavily decayed tooth and for most people, it does the job. If there’s proper care given to a treated tooth, its effect can last for a lifetime. However, there are times when the tooth doesn’t heal properly or starts to decay. This will usually cause pain in the treated area. If your tooth becomes re-infected after a root canal treatment, don’t worry – there are other treatments available to help you out.

After talking to your endodontist, you may be eligible for endodontic retreatment. There are many reasons why you may need retreatment, for instance:

1. Narrow or curved canals were not treated during the initial procedure.
2. Complicated canal anatomy went undetected in the first procedure.
3. The placement of the crown or other restoration was delayed following the endodontic treatment.
4. The restoration did not prevent salivary contamination to the inside of the tooth.

If your endodontist and you agree to retreatment, the procedure can be carried out in a timely manner. In this treatment, your endodontist will reopen your tooth to access the filling material. If there is a crown fitted, it will require dismantling and reassembly. After this, they will remove the canal filing and re-examine the area to look for a probable cause.

The next step will be to put a temporary filling and you’ll be required to visit the dentist again in order to reassemble the crown or complete the restoration process. While this may seem like too much of a hassle, this is required to save the natural tooth. Retreated teeth can function normally for a long time and because of this, retreatment is seen as a viable option. 

Modern technology is pacing forward at a lightning speed and there are always new techniques and tools available that will make procedures simpler and better. If you wish to preserve your natural tooth then retreatment is an ideal option. 

As is the case with all medical procedures, do not delay a consultation with an endodontist. The earlier you go for a visit, the better it will be for you and your teeth. It is also given that a procedure does not guarantee any specified result. Before opting for endodontic retreatment, always have a thorough consultation with your dentist and take some time to think it through. 

By performing this procedure, you are increasing the life of your tooth and saving yourself from pain and additional complications in the future.

Root Canals involve extracting infected pulp from within a tooth, and this prevents furthermore harmful and painful infections from occurring. The infected pulp, if left unchecked, can start to result in severe pain, and deteriorate the health of the overall tooth. Root canal treatments ensure that the pulp is removed and is a relatively pain-free procedure involving anesthesia. 

Here are six facts worth knowing about root canals if you’re thinking of having one:

1. The pulp is your tooth’s alarm system. It’s what alerts the body when the health of the tooth starts to decay, and also provides some of the sensations you experience on your teeth when eating various foods. Sensitivity to the pulp is what you experience as pain.
2. The pulp is also responsible for more than just providing sensation. It’s also critical to formulating dentin, which is the layer that sits underneath teeth enamel and is what gives the tooth its white color.
3. Your tooth can survive without the pulp, but what it can’t do is survive long with infected pulp. This is why root canals are necessary as they help remove an infected pulp that may result in the tooth decaying. The pulp provides all the necessary nutrients when the tooth is growing, but once fully formed, then the tooth can go on living without pulp, but an infected one can do quite a bit of damage from the inside. 
4. An infected pulp can be caused by diseases affecting gum tissue. This is because gum tissues are interconnected with pulp in one’s tooth. Blood vessels and nerves connect the pulp to the gum and because of this, even gum diseases can make its way into infecting the pulp and necessitating a root canal.
5. There’s a lot of false facts such as infections being common after a root canal. However, this isn’t the case. Infections are generally very low after a root canal procedure and when an infection does happen they’re very low risk and easily treatable. This makes it a relatively safe procedure to undergo.
    

You don’t need a lot of powerful painkillers after a root canal procedure. And how much you need is very subjective. Though a root canal procedure cannot guarantee any pain, an average procedure will only require common over the counter pain medication for a few days in order to subdue any pain in one or two weeks. Most of this pain medication is also to ensure the swelling subsides.

Endodontists and general dentists are both dental professionals, but they have slightly different specialties. In fact, it’s possible to be both, but to be an endodontist, you have to be a general dentist first. This is because an endodontist builds on the certifications a general dentist earns, spending an additional two years in school to learn their craft.

So which should you see, an endodontist or a general dentist? That depends on what dental issues you have.

General Dentist

General dentists perform common dental procedures such as filling cavities, fitting crowns and bridges, and assessing overall teeth and gum health. They’ll also advise patients on oral health care.

They don’t perform root canals and, in fact, only assist in the preparation and post-care check-ups. Endodontists are the ones trained to carry out this procedure.

For issues that require more serious attention and expertise, general dentists will refer patients to a more specialized practitioner such as an orthodontist, endodontist, or periodontist.

Endodontist

Endodontists, on the other hand, are trained to perform more advanced dental procedures such as root canal therapy, root canal re-treatment, and endodontic surgery.

If you need any of these treatments or have significant dental injuries, then you’ll be referred to an endodontist after meeting with a general dentist.

Seeing an endodontist over a general dentist who’s less specialized does come with advantages. They’re experts in diagnosing complex dental conditions and treating them, which is ideal when you’re seeking treatment for severe tooth pain. Their advanced education also means they’ll be more adept at treating these conditions using procedures such as root canals.

Endodontists are also experts in pain management and will be able to use numbing medications more effectively, ensuring pain is minimized before, during, and after treatment. Combined with their expertise in advanced medical technology, this allows them to provide much better treatment.

If you’ve got oral health issues that a routine checkup and cleaning can’t solve, particularly if you’re in significant pain, an endodontist may be more appropriate for you. Either way, any general dentist who believes you’ll need more advanced treatment will refer you to an endodontist for a consultation.

“You need a root canal.” These are five words nobody wants to hear from their dentist. Sometimes, though, a root canal is necessary. 

If you have severe tooth decay, a root canal procedure will help to prevent infection from spreading. 

The procedure might not be particularly pleasant. However, the results that it can provide are well worth it for most people.

That being said, some people experience better results from root canals than others. There are a lot of factors that can influence the effectiveness of this treatment, including existing tooth conditions.

Read on to learn how existing tooth conditions can affect root canal treatment.

Tooth Types

Certain tooth types respond better to root canal treatments.

Teeth that have just one root are often easier to treat. Teeth that have multiple roots, on the other hand, are more difficult. They also often require the use of special equipment and techniques. 

It’s not impossible to treat a tooth that has multiple roots. The process just takes extra time and skill in most cases — your dentist might even recommend you to a specialist.

Lingering Infection

Dentists sometimes have a difficult time clearing out infection all the way when they’re performing a root canal procedure. When they’re working on certain teeth — such as the back molars — it can be easy to overlook an infection altogether. 

If this happens, the infection can continue to spread and cause additional oral health problems (and other health problems).

Disease Progressions

The longer an infection has progressed and an individual has gone without dental care, the more difficult it is to perform root canal procedures. \

Sometimes, the infection spreads so much that the patient doesn’t respond well to the medications used to numb them. As a result, the procedure is more painful and the patient takes longer to make a full recovery. 

This is why it’s important to see a dentist on a regular basis for cleanings and make an appointment right away if you start experiencing pain or any other problematic symptoms.

Age

Finally, age can play a role in root canal treatment, too. Older patients with aging teeth may experience more pain and discomfort during and after the procedure.

Their teeth may be more prone to damage, too, as a result of them being older and more brittle. Because of this, dentists may have to apply crowns to try and add an extra layer of protection.

Should You Still Seek Root Canal Treatment?

As you can see, there are a few different factors that can influence the effectiveness of your root canal treatment. 

This knowledge can be a bit daunting at first. You might even be wondering if it’s worth it for you to pursue a root canal. 

Some root canals are more intense than others. In most cases, though, it’s still ideal for you to have a root canal if your dentist recommends it. 

Just make sure you’re working with a dentist who is thorough and understands the potential factors that might influence your treatment. 

Should you be scared of a root canal? 

To help you find out whether it is reasonable for you to fear this dental procedure, let us separate fact from fiction. 

Here are some myths and truths about root canals:

Myth 1: Root Canals Are Painful

When people are told that they need a root canal, they usually think about pain. 

However, the pain they feel is caused by an infection in the tooth, not by the root canal treatment. A root canal is done to eliminate that pain. 

The root canal procedure itself is painless. Advancements in the field of endodontics, as well as the use of effective anesthetic agents, are responsible for making this procedure relatively less painful. 

It must be noted that the objective of performing this procedure is to remove the infected pulp, which is the source of pain.

At times, people keep delaying the visit to the dentist, which causes severe infection. Though the intensity of pain is considerably reduced as the source of pain is removed, some pain may still be experienced as the effect of anesthesia wears off. 

Moreover, the inflamed tissues at the end of the tooth are still in the process of healing. The tooth may feel more sensitive, especially if there was a severe infection prior to the procedure.

This discomfort can be relieved with the help of OTC painkillers or prescription medication. It’s best to avoid chewing on the affected tooth until the crown has been fitted.

Myth 2: The Tooth Won’t Feel Pain After the Procedure

Many people believe that once they have had root canal treatment, they will no longer feel pain in the treated tooth. 

This, however, is incorrect. The tooth will no longer be sensitive to hot or cold food or beverages. 

But for a few days after treatment, the area around the tooth can be sensitive. If this happens to you, your dentist can prescribe a medicine to reduce inflammation.

Myth 3: A Root Canal Means Removing the Tooth

The whole point of root canal therapy is to try to save a tooth, not to remove it. 

Your tooth and roots are not removed. The canals are cleaned and shaped on the inside only. The nerve tissue and pulp are removed along with some of the inside part of the root to ensure all the bacteria have been removed.

Myth 4: A Root Canal is Not Required For a Dead Tooth

A tooth dies when the blood supply to the nerve inside the tooth root is cut off. This could occur due to trauma or decay. 

Though one may think that there’s no need to treat a dead tooth as it can no longer cause pain or sensitivity to temperature changes, extracting the tooth or saving it through a root canal can prevent the bacteria from multiplying inside the dead tooth and causing an oral infection.

For a root canal performed by expert orthodontists, visit NYC Endodontics. We also treat cracked teeth.