When patients are told they may need root canal treatment, they may be worried about undergoing endodontic surgery. Drs. Ashraf, Mark, and Amir Awadalla of Scarborough ON are dentists in the area who are committed to assisting patients with endodontics when necessary.
Endodontics explained
Endodontics is a field of dentistry that focuses on the dental pulp within the tooth and what can be done to address it if it becomes infected or diseased. The dental pulp is a mass of tissues that includes the blood supply and nerves. When patients experience trauma to a tooth, such as a cavity that becomes deep enough to impact the dental pulp, extreme pain can occur. This toothache often brings patients into the dental office for attention. If it is decided that the dental pulp has been affected, patients may then need to undergo endodontic therapy.
What is involved in endodontic therapy?
Root canal treatment is performed during a procedure done in our office. Patients are properly anesthetized and sedated for this treatment to ensure comfort. The dentist uses a special instrument that creates a hole into the tooth that is used for accessing the dental pulp. Once the dental pulp has been reached, the dentist removes it, cleans out the canals of the tooth, and then fills the area with gutta percha. Following this, the dentist will seal off the tooth with composite resin, and in many instances, may also create and place a dental crown over the tooth to give it an extra layer of protection against damage.
When should endodontic therapy be done?
Endodontic therapy is done whenever there has been damage to the dental pulp. This is because there is no other treatment option to save the tooth. Endodontic therapy is done after the patient has been evaluated by the dentist and it has been determined that the dental pulp has been harmed or infected in one way or another. Patients are encouraged to ask their dentist about the procedure, ask questions about what can be done and how it is done, and are welcome to book an appointment for their treatment.
What are the alternatives to endodontic therapy?
If a patient does not undergo a root canal, their only other option to eliminate the pain is to extract the tooth. This also requires extra time, consideration, and money, as patients then need to decide how to replace the tooth. This may be done with:
- Dental implants
- Dental bridges
- Dentures
Discuss endodontic therapy with a team of professionals today!
Drs. Ashraf, Mark, and Amir Awadalla, along with the team at Esquire Dental Centres in Scarborough ON are here to help patients in the community with their dental health care needs. When problems arise that require root canal treatment, we can assist. Call us at 416 203-1434 to make an appointment at our practice at 2650 Lawrence Avenue E #6D at FreshCo Plaza at Midland. We also have two other convenient offices in North York and Pickering.
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