Endodontics and Root Canals
Endodontics is an ADA-recognized dental specialty that focuses on the tissue and nerves that surround the root and pulp of a tooth. Every tooth contains a nourishing pulp center of blood vessels, nerves, and lymph vessels protected by a hard external shell. The vessels and nerves connect to the rest of the body’s systems by way of a canal running through the tooth’s root that acts as a conduit for sensory signals. When a tooth becomes decayed or damaged, the nerves and delicate pulp inside the tooth can become infected and cause intense pain and tenderness. The main procedure associated with endodontics is a root canal, where the pulp chamber and canals are removed of the decayed organic tooth material, disinfected, and replaced with an inert filling.
Root canal therapy and endodontics can save your teeth from severe decay, extreme discomfort, and ultimate extraction. Please contact Dr. Victor Oelbaum and Associates for further details on root canal therapy, emergency dentistry, and tooth pain relief. Our team will be happy to answer your questions.
How a Root Canal Can Help
Root canals are an effective treatment with a very high success rate. Some of the common indicators that a root canal may be needed are:
- Unprompted throbbing or pain
- Pain while chewing, eating, or biting
- Sensitivity or tenderness to hot or cold
- Swelling or tenderness near an infected tooth
- Severe breaks, chips, or injuries to tooth
Root canal treatment can often be a tooth-saving procedure. The nerves and vessels in tooth pulp do not heal by themselves in the case of an infection. Without treatment, the infection may continue to spread to the rest of the tooth, causing bone deterioration and the eventual need for extraction. At Dr. Victor Oelbaum & Associates we have an experienced endodontist on site to offer patients the confidence of knowing their dental needs will be taken care of under the most qualified and specialized treatment.
The Root Canal Procedure
Our dentists combine the latest in endodontic technology and techniques to perform the root canal procedure safely and comfortably. Utilizing the highest-grade dental microscopes for enhanced comfort and results, they first administer anesthetic and gently remove the infected pulp from the root canal using rotary instrumentation. If the tooth requires additional support, a post is placed in the canal and secured with dental cement. Following the removal of the infected portion of the tooth, the root canal will be filled with dental cement for strength, ultimately making way for a permanent dental crown placed over the tooth for protection. This not only protects the tooth, but also gives it a natural look and feel.
Our specialists can perform root canal therapy and crown placement right here under one roof, without having to refer you to another practice, making the process more convenient and efficient. Our goal is to prevent further damage from decaying teeth with results that look terrific