Dr. Philip Memoli - Root Canal Alternative Treatment | Holistic Dentistry NJ
A root canal-treated (RCT) or root-filled tooth is one in which the dental nerve, commonly called the pulp, is intentionally removed and is filled with an inert material called gutta percha. Once an RCT is performed, the tooth must be restored with a post and a crown. These will strengthen the tooth and prevent a crack or fracture from developing after treatment.
What are the pros and cons of root canals?
The pro of a root canal is obvious: the painful or dead tooth is treated and extraction is avoided. But we must ask two key questions before starting a root canal.
How is a root canal properly diagnosed?
A root canal is a treatment, not a diagnosis. Good dentistry, like good medicine, starts with a proper diagnosis of the tooth.
Some dentists argue that a diagnosis is academic and a waste of a patient’s time. The result is always the same, they say, a root canal. However, establishing a true diagnosis of tooth pain may avert an unnecessary root canal of an otherwise healthy tooth.
Other causes of tooth pain, other than those listed above, can include decay, bite trauma, bruxism, referred pain, nerve disorders and cracked teeth. These causes result in various effects, such as tooth nerve infection, inflammation and ischemia.
What are my options once a root canal is inevitable?
It’s important to understand that all teeth problems are unique. No treatment is universal. Individual circumstances may dictate that a specific treatment is not an option. Or perhaps one option will offer a superior result over another.
The root canal is a three-step procedure. Failure to follow all three steps may result in tooth loss. First, the dentist must remove the nerve from the root system and seal the space with an inert material called gutta percha. Second, a post-core must be placed to prevent root fracture. Third, a crown should be added to prevent fracture of the tooth.
What is the success rate of root canals and what constitutes failure?
With recent improvements in technology, root canal success rates are estimated between 86% and 98% that means that as many as one tooth in seven may be classified as a root canal failure. In addition, many of those failures are chronic, that is, producing no radiographic signs or pain symptoms to indicate failure.
Call us today at (908) 464-9144 or contact us via our online contact form.
Read more about our services: http://www.holisticdentistrynj.com/
What are the pros and cons of root canals?
The pro of a root canal is obvious: the painful or dead tooth is treated and extraction is avoided. But we must ask two key questions before starting a root canal.
- Can the tooth be restored?
- Can a predictable RCT be performed, or are there risks for a poor result?
How is a root canal properly diagnosed?
A root canal is a treatment, not a diagnosis. Good dentistry, like good medicine, starts with a proper diagnosis of the tooth.
Some dentists argue that a diagnosis is academic and a waste of a patient’s time. The result is always the same, they say, a root canal. However, establishing a true diagnosis of tooth pain may avert an unnecessary root canal of an otherwise healthy tooth.
Other causes of tooth pain, other than those listed above, can include decay, bite trauma, bruxism, referred pain, nerve disorders and cracked teeth. These causes result in various effects, such as tooth nerve infection, inflammation and ischemia.
What are my options once a root canal is inevitable?
It’s important to understand that all teeth problems are unique. No treatment is universal. Individual circumstances may dictate that a specific treatment is not an option. Or perhaps one option will offer a superior result over another.
The root canal is a three-step procedure. Failure to follow all three steps may result in tooth loss. First, the dentist must remove the nerve from the root system and seal the space with an inert material called gutta percha. Second, a post-core must be placed to prevent root fracture. Third, a crown should be added to prevent fracture of the tooth.
What is the success rate of root canals and what constitutes failure?
With recent improvements in technology, root canal success rates are estimated between 86% and 98% that means that as many as one tooth in seven may be classified as a root canal failure. In addition, many of those failures are chronic, that is, producing no radiographic signs or pain symptoms to indicate failure.
Call us today at (908) 464-9144 or contact us via our online contact form.
Read more about our services: http://www.holisticdentistrynj.com/
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