What Is Endodontic Treatment and Why Would I Need an Endodontic Procedure?

Endodontic treatments are dental procedures that focus solely on the inside of the tooth, including the pulp and the roots of the tooth. The pulp of the tooth is the connective tissues that reside in the center of the tooth that is being contained within the dentin including nerves and blood vessels. These treatments often entail a surgical procedure but will be deemed necessary to restore the health of the natural tooth. The cases that require endodontic treatments will likely be more severe cases of decay, or progressed infection that without essential treatment will lead to the tooth having to be extracted, or will start to affect the surrounding teeth, tissues, and the jawbone. Several different treatments are provided by endodontists, with a handful of procedures being much more widely known.

The most common endodontic procedure is a root canal, which is performed to remove all infected or decaying tissue from a tooth, often due to a build-up of plaque or tartar, a cavity, or damage done to the tooth that allowed for bacteria to enter the pulp or roots of the tooth. A root canal will be required for cases where the damage caused by the bacteria is now affecting the integrity of the tooth, putting it at risk of having to be extracted to stop the infection from spreading beyond just the one affected tooth. The procedure itself involves the removal of all of the damaged and infected tissue from within the tooth and then properly sealing off the tooth to prevent new bacteria from entering the tooth. Other common types of endodontic procedures include apicoectomies, which focus on removing infected or damaged tissues from the root of the tooth through an incision in the gums and fixing cracks or fractures of teeth to prevent the tooth from becoming infected or needing to be extracted.

The primary function of endodontic procedures is to save and restore the natural tooth, but these procedures are also effective in ensuring that infection, abscesses, and general bacteria are unable to spread to other tissues surrounding the affected tooth. Whenever possible, it will almost always be preferred by dental professionals to restore and save the natural tooth rather than extracting a tooth to be replaced by an implant or dental bridge.

Patients will likely need to undergo an endodontic treatment if the pulp or roots of their teeth become inflamed or infected, with the most common causes of inflammation or infection within a tooth being deep cavities, perhaps that was left untreated for too long, having to undergo repeated dental procedures on a single tooth, or if the patient has incurred damage to the tooth that has led to a significant chip, crack, or fracture that is exposing the pulp or roots to potential bacteria. Trauma to the tooth (such as significant impact) can lead to internal inflammation which would require an endodontic treatment.

Without proper treatment, infections in the tooth can quickly spread to the rest of the tooth as well as beyond just the one tooth, putting the surrounding gums, other teeth, and jawbone at risk. Severe infections can even infiltrate the blood supply, causing infection to spread throughout the body, making seeking proper treatment as early as possible essential in ensuring your health.

The recovery time following an endodontic treatment will vary from patient to patient, depending on how their body responds to treatment as well as what type of treatment is performed. However, it is common for patients to start feeling back to normal within a couple of days, with a significant reduction of pain and swelling occurring over a few days. There will likely be some discomfort or soreness, particularly while chewing, for a bit, but the treated tissue (specifically the gums if relevant) should be completely healed within three weeks. Many patients will be prescribed antibiotics or pain medication to support a healthy and speedy recovery process. To consult our professionals, please contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 4161 South Eastern Suite E8, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. We serve patients from Las Vegas NV, Winchester NV, Paradise NV, Spring Valley NV, North Las Vegas NV, Whitney NV, and surrounding areas.