Endodontics in Ashburn, VA
Endodontics is the branch of dental science that deals with the inner workings of the tooth. An Endodontist studies, views, and treats conditions inside the outer layers of your tooth. Common conditions include:
- Cavities
- Tooth decay
- Inflammation of the pulp
- Infection of the pulp
- Tooth abscess beneath the root of the tooth
The common endodontic treatment that endodontists, like Dr. Elba Castro Goguen here at Advanced Endodontics of Virginia, use to treat problems inside of the tooth is root canal therapy. The doctor drills a hole into the tooth and removes infected tissue and pulp, then seals it securely to give relief.
Why Is Endodontic Treatment Important?
When some dental problems progress over a long period of time, extraction is the only viable solution. An endodontist can help save your natural teeth. After the infected pulp is eliminated, Dr. Castro cleans the inside of the tooth so that it can heal and be of use to you for many more years to come.
Preventing Tooth Infections in the Future
Brushing and flossing regularly is extremely important—you should brush twice per day and floss at least once before bedtime. Seeing your dentist regularly throughout the year is also important. They can spot cavities that eventually lead to more serious problems. Adopting better eating habits (less sugar and candy) will also help prevent tooth infections down the line.
Endodontic Retreatment
With the appropriate care, your teeth that have had endodontic treatment will last as long as other natural teeth. Yet, a tooth that has received treatment may fail to heal or pain may continue to exist. Sometimes, the pain may occur months or years after treatment. If so, Endodontic Retreatment may be needed.
Improper healing may be caused by:
- Curved or narrow canals were not treated during the initial treatment.
- Complicated canals went undetected during the initial treatment.
- The crown or restoration was not placed within the appropriate amount of time following the procedure.
- The crown or restoration did not prevent saliva from contaminating the inside of the tooth.
In some cases, new problems can influence a tooth that was successfully treated:
- New decay can expose a root canal filling material, causing infection.
- A cracked or loose filling or crown can expose the tooth to new infection.
Once retreatment has been selected as a solution to your problem, Dr. Castro will reopen your tooth to gain access to the root canal filling material. This restorative material will be removed to enable access to the root canal. Dr. Castro will now clean your canals and carefully examine the inside of the problematic tooth. Once cleaned, Dr. Castro will fill and seal the canals and place a temporary filling in the tooth.
At this point, you will need to return to your dentist as soon as possible in order to have a new crown or restoration placed on the tooth to restore full functionality.