Endodontic Care in Irvine

Endodontics is a sub-specialty of dentistry involving the tooth’s inner tissue, known as the dental pulp. This tissue contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue that nourishes the tooth in its early development and helps it grow its roots. If the pulp becomes injured, inflamed, infected or diseased, endodontic therapy may be needed to save the tooth.

Endodontic treatment with the professionals at Irvine Root Canal is critical to relieve persistent pain and discomfort, and help maintain the tooth’s natural appearance, normal biting force and chewing function. Endodontic care also helps protect the surrounding teeth from excessive wear or strain. With the right care and attention, teeth that have received endodontic treatment can last as long as natural healthy teeth.

What Is an Endodontist?

An endodontist is a dentist with special training and experience in the subspecialty of endodontic care. An endodontist graduates from dental school and completes a minimum of two years of advanced education and training in endodontics. They may seek certification from the American Board of Endodontics.

Dentists have a general understanding of endodontic therapy and diagnosing endodontic conditions, but endodontists are experts in these cases. Dentists refer complex endodontic cases to endodontists for their experience and expertise.

Endodontic Procedures

Please note: We offer free nitrous oxide to all endodontic patients.

Root Canal

A root canal is the most common endodontic procedure and what people think of when they hear “endodontic care.” Root canal therapy involves removing infected or inflamed dental pulp inside the root canals of the tooth, disinfecting the root canals and sealing off the tooth. Read more about root canal here.

Root Canal Retreatment

Most teeth respond well to root canal therapy and are able to thrive after the procedure for a lifetime. In rare cases, a tooth fails to heal from treatment — either because of the complex anatomy of the root canals, failure to initially treat the narrow or curved canals of the tooth, the delayed placement of the crown or filling after the root canal, or salivary contamination inside the tooth. Or, the tooth initially responds to a root canal, but later becomes diseased or painful because of a loose, cracked or broken restoration, tooth fracture or contamination of the root canal filling.

During retreatment, the endodontist reopens the tooth and removes the material filling the root canals. The inside of the tooth is carefully disinfected and cleaned, and filled with new material. The opening of the tooth is closed off and a new restoration is placed over the top of the tooth.

Apicoectomy

An apicoectomy is a procedure that treats persistent inflammation in the bony area surrounding the tooth’s root after root canal therapy. The endodontist opens the gum tissue near the tooth’s root and removes inflamed or infected tissue (some of the tissue may be biopsied and sent for testing). The end of the root is also removed, and a small filling may be placed over the tooth’s root to seal off the end. The endodontist makes a few stitches in the gum tissue to help it heal. Over time, the bone gradually fills in the area at the end of the root.

Emergency Endodontics

A sudden blow to the mouth or other traumatic injury can damage the tooth structure and dental pulp, causing serious damage. Emergency endodontic treatment depends on the type, severity and location of the injury.

In the case of a chipped or fractured tooth, either the broken piece is reattached or a dental restoration like a filling or crown is used to restore normal appearance and strength to the tooth. In the case of a knocked out (a.k.a., avulsed) tooth, the tooth is placed back in the socket and a stabilizing splint is used to keep it in position as it heals. However, both the length of time the tooth was out of the mouth and how it was stored influence whether it is placed back in the mouth.

Contact Our Irvine Endodontists

To learn more about the treatments available at Irvine Root Canal, or to schedule an appointment with our endodontist, please call (949) 748-7373 or email our office today.