Root Canal in Shrewsbury, MA
An infected tooth can cause all kinds of problems for both your oral health and your overall well-being. If you have an infected tooth, it is important that you get treatment as soon as possible. We offer endodontic treatment, which involves treating the inner pulp and repairing infected teeth.
What Is An Endodontist?
Endodontists are specialists in saving teeth. They have two years of additional training and use advanced techniques to provide high levels of patient care.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a common term used for a root canal treatment. Your real “root canals” are a part of your tooth. They make up the innermost portions of your teeth, which are hollow and house pulp. Nerves and blood vessels run through this soft tissue, which nourishes your teeth, keeping them alive and well. When this part of your tooth becomes infected, you require a root canal treatment where the diseased pulp is eliminated, and the root canal is cleaned and sealed. Infections typically occur when bacteria invade your tooth, often through an existing cavity but can also be the result of trauma, cracks, or repeated dental procedures.
What is Root Canal Retreatment?
Sometimes a tooth that has received root canal therapy may fail to heal or pain may continue to persist. This can make itself known months or even years following treatment. If this is the case, root canal retreatment may be needed. Failure to heal may be the result of complex anatomy or undetected canals during the initial treatment. Other reasons include a crown/restoration that was not placed immediately following initial root canal treatment or when new decay exposed the root canal filling to saliva resulting in contamination and/or infection. Retreatment requires the root canal system to be re-cleaned and re-sealed.
What is Root Canal Surgery?
The most common surgery is called an apicoectomy or root-end resection. A small incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. The inflamed tissue and small root end are both removed and the remaining root on the tooth receives a filling to prevent re-infection. The gum is then sutured. The bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months to a year and restores the tooth to function.
What is Cracked Tooth Syndrome?
Cracked teeth have a variety of symptoms, including pain when chewing, pain on release after biting, or temperature sensitivity. Pain can be intermittent, making it difficult to diagnose the source of discomfort. Chewing can cause movement of the cracked pieces and lead to damage of the pulp resulting in infection.
Traumatic Injuries
If your tooth has been completely knocked out or removed from its socket, we can return it to the socket and stabilize it. In a week or so, we may recommend medication, as well as a root canal, to ensure the tooth remains strong and healthy. Remember, when your tooth is knocked out you need to keep the tooth moist, so place it in a glass of milk, or water (with a pinch of salt), or if possible, back into your socket.
What Are the Benefits of a Root Canal?
Endodontic treatments can save your tooth, so you do not need an extraction. When your tooth becomes infected, you risk losing the tooth and there is also a chance of the infection spreading. The benefits of root canal treatment include:
- Saves the health of your tooth
- Removes bacteria and infection, thereby removing associated discomfort
- Stops your tooth from abscessing as the infection worsens
- Prevents the spread of infection to other teeth
- Restores the structure of your tooth, if completing the treatment with a dental crown
Do You Make A Good Candidate for a Root Canal?
If you are diagnosed with an infected tooth, the best option for your treatment may be an endodontic procedure, such as a root canal. The sooner you undergo treatment, the faster we can stop the problem, so it does not spread to surrounding teeth.
Schedule An Appointment!
At Modern Dentistry of Shrewsbury, our doctors and team look forward to providing you with the beautiful, healthy smile you desire through our wide array of dental services. Contact us to schedule an appointment with our endodontist, Dr. Wei, and colleagues by calling our office at (508) 842-8838. Located in Shrewsbury, MA, we proudly Worcester, North and South Grafton, Westborough, Southborough, Northborough, Boylston, Hopkinton, Millbury, and surrounding communities.
