Specialty Dental Services in Littleton, CO
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What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is one of the most common dental procedures performed, with over 14 million being performed every year. This simple, pain free treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need of dental implants or bridges.
At the center of your tooth is pulp. Pulp is a collection of blood vessels that helps to build the surrounding tooth. Infection of the pulp can be caused by trauma to the tooth, deep decay, cracks and chips, or repeated dental procedures. Symptoms of the infection can be identified as visible injury or swelling of the tooth, sensitivity to temperature or pain in the tooth and gums.
How is a Root Canal Performed?
If you experience any of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend non-surgical treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp. This injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the treatment required. Success for this type of treatment occurs in about 90% of cases. If your tooth is not amenable to endodontic treatment or the chance of success is unfavorable, you will be informed at the time of consultation or when a complication becomes evident during or after treatment. We use local anesthesia to eliminate discomfort.
How Much Will it Cost?
The cost associated with a root canal procedure can vary depending on factors such as the severity of damage to the affected tooth and which tooth is affected. In general, endodontic treatment is much less expensive than tooth removal and replacement with an artificial tooth or implant.
After The Procedure – Home Care For A Root Canal
After your procedure, you will be sent home with instructions for pain management and how to care for your tooth during recovery. Before you leave, your dentist may schedule a follow up visit to review how you’re healing.
After the procedure, and as the numbing medication starts to wear off, you may feel some slight soreness or tenderness in the area for a few days as the healing process begins. You may also experience some mild soreness in your jaw from keeping your mouth open for an extended amount of time during the procedure. These temporary symptoms are usually treatable with over-the-counter medication, but your dentist may write you a prescription for additional pain medication. It’s important to carefully follow the instructions and take any medications as prescribed.
Though you may experience a slightly different sensation from your treated tooth than your other teeth for some time, you should contact your dentist immediately if you start experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Severe pain or pressure lasting more than a few days
- Visible swelling inside or outside your mouth
- Your bite feels uneven
- The temporary crown or filling comes out (if a temporary was placed)
- Any of the symptoms you experienced prior to treatment return (sensitivity to temperatures, pain, etc.)
Do You Need A Root Canal?
If you’re experiencing serious teeth pain when eating , pressure on a specific tooth/area, or sensitivity to hot or cold, you may need a root canal. Contact our office today for an appointment, and get out of pain.
Our dentists may determine that you need a tooth extraction for any number of reasons. Some teeth are extracted because they are severely decayed. Others may have advanced periodontal disease, or have broken in a way that cannot be repaired. Other teeth may need removal because they are poorly positioned in the mouth (such as impacted teeth), or preparation for orthodontic treatment.
The removal of a single tooth can lead to problems related to your chewing ability, problems with your jaw joint, and shifting teeth, which can have a major impact on your dental health.
To avoid these complications, in most cases, our dentists will discuss alternatives to extractions as well replacement of the extracted tooth.
Reasons You May Need A Tooth Extraction
There are numerous situations in which a simple extraction is needed. Extractions are typically performed because of an active problem such as pain, swelling, decay, infection, as a preventative measure to avoid serious problems in the future, or to prepare your for another cosmetic or restorative procedure.
Common reasons for tooth extractions include:
- Advanced periodontal disease that has loosened the roots of your tooth
- Extra teeth or baby teeth that impede adult teeth
- Preparing a patient for orthodontic treatment
- Removing a fractured or malformed tooth
- Severe tooth decay which cannot be fixed with root canal therapy
- Removal of Wisdom Teeth
The Extraction Process
At the time of extraction, the doctor will need to numb your tooth, jawbone, and gums that surround the area with a local anesthetic.
During the extraction process, you will feel a lot of pressure. This is from the process of firmly rocking the tooth to widen the socket for removal.
You feel the pressure without pain as the anesthetic has numbed the nerves stopping the transference of pain, yet the nerves that transmit pressure are not profoundly affected.
If you do feel pain at any time during the extraction please let us know right away.
How A Tooth Is Extracted
Although we often hope to avoid the extraction of a tooth, sometimes it is necessary if the tooth cannot be saved by a root canal or other dental procedure.
Extractions are usually performed under local anesthesia. For those with high anxiety or prefer to be sedated for this type of procedure, we also offer sedation dentistry.
Once the tooth has been pulled, a blood clot will form in the socket. The dentist will may place a few stitches to close the gums over the extraction site. The dentist will pack a gauze pad into the socket and have you bite down on it. This will help stop the bleeding and help the clot form. It’s important to let the clot heal and form properly. If the blood clot does not form properly, you can run the risk of a painful condition called dry socket.
Tooth Sectioning
Some teeth require sectioning. This is a very common procedure done when a tooth is so firmly anchored in its socket or the root is curved and the socket can’t expand enough to remove it. The doctor simply cuts the tooth into sections then removes each section one at a time.
Home Care After A Tooth Extraction
After tooth extraction, a blood clot needs to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. Bite on a gauze pad for 30-45 minutes immediately after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times to staunch the flow of blood.
After the blood clot forms, it is important to not disturb or dislodge the clot. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for 72 hours. These activities may dislodge or dissolve the clot and hinder the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours, as this increases blood pressure and may cause more bleeding from the extraction site.
After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.
Use pain medication as directed. Call our office if the medication doesn’t seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluids and eat nutritious, soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.
It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.
After a few days, you should feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling for 2-3 days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately.
What Are Wisdom Teeth?
Third molars, commonly referred to as wisdom teeth, are usually the last four of 32 teeth to erupt (surface) in the mouth. Wisdom teeth generally make their appearance between the ages of 17 to 25. They are located at the back of the mouth (top and bottom), near the entrance to the throat. The term “wisdom” stems from the idea that the molars surface at a time typically associated with increased maturity or “wisdom”.
In most cases, inadequate space in the mouth does not allow the wisdom teeth to erupt properly and become fully functional. When this happens, the tooth can become impacted (stuck) in an undesirable or potentially harmful position. If left untreated, impacted wisdom teeth can contribute to infection, damage to other teeth, and possibly cysts or tumors.
There are several types, or degrees, of impaction based on the actual depth of the teeth within the jaw:
- Soft Tissue Impaction: The upper portion of the tooth (the crown) has penetrated through the bone, but the gingiva (gum) is covering part or all of the tooth’s crown and has not positioned properly around the tooth. Because it is difficult to keep the area clean, food can become trapped below the gum and cause an infection and/or tooth decay, resulting in pain and swelling.
- Partial Bony Impaction: The tooth has partially erupted, but a portion of the crown remains submerged below the gum and surrounding jawbone. Again, because it is difficult to keep the area clean, infection will commonly occur.
- Complete Bony Impaction: The tooth is completely encased by jawbone. This will require more complex removal techniques.
Reasons to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
While not all wisdom teeth require removal, wisdom teeth extractions are most often performed because of an active problem such as pain, swelling, decay or infection, or as a preventative measure to avoid serious problems in the future. If impaction of one or more wisdom teeth is present and left untreated, a number of potentially harmful outcomes can occur, including:
- Damage to nearby teeth: Second molars (the teeth directly in front of the wisdom teeth) can be adversely affected by impacted wisdom teeth, resulting in tooth decay (cavities), periodontal disease (gum disease), and possible bone loss.
- Disease: Although uncommon, cysts and tumors can occur in the areas surrounding impacted wisdom teeth.
- Infection: Bacteria and food can become trapped under the gum tissue, resulting in an infection. The infection can cause considerable pain and danger.
- Tooth Crowding: It has been theorized that impacted wisdom teeth can put pressure on other teeth and cause them to become misaligned (crowded or twisted). This theory isn’t universally accepted by all dental professionals, and it has never been validated by any scientific studies.
Wisdom Teeth Examination
As with any dental procedure, your dentist will want to initially conduct a thorough examination of the wisdom and surrounding teeth. Panoramic or digital X-rays will be taken in order for your dentist to evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth and determine if a current problem exists, or the likelihood of any potential future problems. The X-rays can also expose additional risk factors, such as deterioration or decay of nearby teeth. Early evaluation and treatment (typically in the mid-teen years) is recommended in order to identify potential problems and to improve the results for patients requiring wisdom teeth extractions. Only after a thorough examination can your dentist provide you with the best options for your particular case.
What Does The Removal of Wisdom Teeth Involve?
Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure, generally performed under local anesthesia, intravenous (IV) sedation, or general anesthesia by a specially trained dentist, in an office surgery suite. The surgery does not require an overnight stay, and you will be released with post-operative instructions and medication (if necessary) to help manage any swelling or discomfort.
Homecare For Wisdom Teeth Extractions
Your dentist will give you take home instructions on how to care for the surgical sites, precautions during the healing process, what to expect, and other information. You can also view these helpful tips here.
If you experience any issues or discomfort following your procedure, please contact our office as soon as possible.
Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
Are your wisdom teeth causing you pain, or think you’re a candidate to have them removed? Call our office today for a consult.