Root Cana Therapy (RCT)l, or Endo endodontics, is the process of removing the nerves from inside the roots of a tooth. For early and moderate infections this is still the “gold standard” of care depending on the patient’s history and advanced diagnostic testing. Root canal therapy is often necessary to repair and hopefully eliminate the infection in the tooth. If an infected tooth is left alone for a long period of time, an abscess can form. An abscess will show up on an x-ray as a dark spot below the tip of the root. This is actually bone loss in the jaw which is sensitive to the pressure buildup of the infection. Pain can but does not usually accompanying this process. It is very important to catch this problem before it deteriorates too far. The CT scan can catch the infection in its earliest stage.

Close

The first step of the procedure is to anesthetize the affected area. The next step is to open an access point through the top of tooth or crown (r biting surface of the tooth). The doctor will then determine a working length of each canal. Each canal is then cleaned and shaped in preparation for the filling material. Once each canal is prepared, it is filled with an inert material called gutta percha. The canals are then sealed. The tooth is now ready for a restoration, which is usually a crown. This entire procedure is often completed in two visits. Sometimes a post and core along with a crown is needed for additional support which adds to the cost.

Close

There are a number of reasons why one of your teeth may need a root canal. These include but are not limited to, a very deep cavity that extends into the nerve, a trauma to the tooth that exposes the nerve, or a crack in the tooth that extends into the nerve of the tooth.

Close

• Moderate to severe lingering toothache pain when drinking hot or cold liquids or foods.
• Moderate to severe pain when biting on a tooth.
• Sensitivity to tapping or pressure on the tooth.
• Toothache that wakes you up in the middle of the night.
• A pimple on your gum that may release pus or blood.
• Radiating pain from one area of the mouth to another.
• Sinus problem on the infected side

Close

Good question. If it were only that simple! In an ideal world, this would not be necessary to choose if all the bacteria were eliminated from your tooth during the root canal therapy (RCT) and the tooth was refilled and capped. Many times, a post is inserted to reinforce the tooth and provide a secure point to adhere the cap. The RCT is now and has been an excellent choice for long term comfort, function, stability and speed of completion with a 90% success rate, when diagnosis and treatment is preformed early and in capable hands.

Let’s think about what happens when a small amount of bacteria is inadvertently left behind in the best of hands. Basically, it is packed in with the filling and given an environment to continue to grow and flourish. Sometime down the road another toothache or one of the listed symptoms arises near the same tooth area. The choices or options at this point are simple:

• Repair it again with a second RCT procedure.
• Remove and replace the tooth with an implant.
• Remove tooth without replacement.
• Remove and replace with removable partial denture.
• Remove and replace with fixed bridge connected to adjacent teeth.

Root canals don't always go as planned as we are dealing with repairing a part of the human body which can be, depending on circumstances, unpredictable.. Sometimes the tooth itself is broken in the process of being repaired. Caps or crowns and sometimes posts and cores are needed to complete the process adding strength, security and cost to the procedure. The crown statistically may need to be replaced after 7-10 years. More costs! All these factors come into play in the decision making process. Now imagine that you'd opted to simply have the bad tooth extracted in the first place and replaced with a dental implant with success rates of 90-97%. In the average dentist’s office, a dental implant, which is designed to last a lifetime, sounds like a good alternative.

Maybe it’s just a matter of cost and risk reward in making a long term physical and financial decision. Insurance coverage is often better with RCT then implants. Call us to find out your best options based on diagnostics not opinion! 941.485.9633

Close