About 15 million teeth are saved every year with root canal treatment. A root canal is necessary when the pulp of a tooth becomes inflamed or infected. If pulp infection is left untreated, this can cause severe pain and/or lead to an abscess. While the perception that root canals are painful began decades ago, advances in dental technology have resulted in root canals that are no more uncomfortable than having a cavity filled. At Pearl Dental Group in Baton Rouge, LA, we utilize the latest technologies for root canal treatment that enable a painless approach while also alleviating dental anxiety. During a root canal one of our skilled dentists removes the infected pulp and nerve in your tooth root, cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space.
When a tooth becomes infected, that infection can spread into the center of the tooth. This area is called the dental pulp. Inside of the dental pulp is the nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. All of the sensitive areas of the tooth are contained here. As such, when the area becomes infected it can be incredibly painful, requiring immediate treatment. Pearl Dental Group routinely performs root canal treatment for people living in and around the Greater Baton Rouge area.
A root canal also known as an endodontic procedure works by creating a small access hole in the tooth so that all of the infected areas can be removed. The entire nerve in the center of the tooth and down the roots is removed using rotary files and irrigating with a disinfectant. Once all the canals have been cleaned and shaped, we will fill and seal them with a material called gutta-percha. Gutta percha is a biocompatible, rubber-like substance fills and seals the inside of the canals that and prevent any future leakage. After the root canal are sealed we will then use a resin filling material to build the tooth back up to form to stabilize and restore any voids. A porcelain crown is then placed over the top of the tooth in order to further strengthen and protect the damaged tooth.
Patients throughout the Greater Baton Rouge have trusted the experts at Pearl Dental Group to provide comfortable and affordable root canal treatment. Call us today at (225) 277-3311 to make an appointment.
If you live in the Greater Baton Rouge area and are suffering with a painful or broken tooth we recommend you visit one of our 2 Pearl Dental Group locations for a FREE exam and x-rays so we can determine the type problem that you are having.
If it appears that a root canal is the best option, we will make the recommendation to for treatment promptly. If not, we will present a treatment solution that will solve your dental issue.
Root canal treatment is extremely effective for eliminating pain and saving damaged teeth. This common treatment is usually done in 1 visit and makes it possible to smile, eat and drink with confidence again.
A tooth root comprises the lower two-thirds of your tooth and serves to anchor it in position and keep your jawbone healthy. The root canal space is located below the pulp chamber in what is called the radicular portion of the tooth. The end tip of the tooth root is called the apex. Root canals can be round, oval, long oval, flattened or irregular. In most people, incisors, canines and premolars have one root, while molars have two or three, each of which can get infected. Due to the complex branching of nerves, most teeth have an intricate internal anatomy. Dentists at Pearl Dental Group in Baton Rouge, LA utilize the latest in 3D imaging to visualize each tooth’s root canal system. Missed canals accounts for a majority of root canal failures. Utilizing 3D technology lets us see how many canals are present and leads to higher success in our root canal treatments.
Causes of inflammation or infection in the dental pulp include deep decay due to untreated cavities, repeated dental restorations or cracked/chipped teeth. Tooth trauma can also result in pulp damage without visible chips or cracks to the enamel. Trauma can also cause nerves and blood vessels to deaden when blood fails to properly flow to these areas. Bacteria from an infection can be carried by the blood vessels deep inside your tooth root. The clinical term for inflammation of the dental pulp is pulpitis. While the principal symptom is pain, diagnosis is based on clinical findings, as well as digital X-rays and pulp vitality tests. Treatment involves removing decay, root canal therapy and restoring the tooth or tooth extraction and dental implant.
When the nerve inside your tooth root becomes infected, the pulp and bacteria must be removed to save your tooth, oral health and overall health. During a root canal in Baton Rouge, LA, our skilled dentist will first numb the treatment site with a local anesthetic. If you suffer from dental anxiety or need additional sedation, we offer a few different sedation options. Either way, you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. After you are thouroughly numb and relaxed we drill a small access hole in your tooth crown to gain access to the pulp chamber and carefully clean out all the bacteria and infected pulp and tissues. Then we fill and seal the end with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Afterward, the tooth is restored with a crown and filling to protect and restore normal function.
Pearl Dental Group accepts most dental insurance plans and offers third-party financing to ensure your treatment is both painless and affordable. Call us today at (225) 277-3311 for a FREE exam and x-rays.
At Pearl Dental Group in Baton Rouge, LA, we believe in using innovative endodontic technology to benefit our patients. One way we do this is the use of the J. Morita Root ZX II root canal shaping system. This revolutionary canal preparation technology allows for precise cleaning and shaping of root canals to length while minimizing the chances of rotary file separation. This breakthrough technology is one of our pearls and allows us to have higher success and better outcomes for our root canal treatment patients.
Using the Root ZX II, our skilled dentists can typically perform a root canal treatment in 30-45 minutes compared to other offices which may take hours and even multiple visits. Minimizing chair time leads to less post-op pain and lets patients return to normal their life without much disruption. In our decades of experience, Root ZX II provides the most predictable and efficient method method for thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting complex internal root anatomies.
When you undergo root canal treatment with our skilled root canal dentist in Baton Rouge, LA, you can get back to your normal life free from tooth pain. The benefits of root canal treatment include:
The best way to prevent a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene, avoid hard food that can crack teeth, and protect your teeth when playing sports. Follow these additional precautions:
Infected tooth pulp will not heal on its own, and will only get worse. Although the pain may disappear and you may think the infection has healed, this is actually a signal that the nerves inside your tooth have died. Although the pain subsided, the infection is still present inside your tooth, and the only treatment option other than a root canal is tooth extraction. If you forgo either treatment, a bacterial infection can spread to your jaw, brain, blood, and possibly the rest of your body. The consequences can be serious, and even fatal!
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