What to Expect During a Root Canal Therapy Procedure

By Arthur Kezian

If you were to ask someone what a root canal was their reply would most likely consist of the words “painful” or “scary”. Why is this so? Many people fear the procedure, when in reality, there isn’t much to be afraid of. Surely, there have been cases where a patient has not liked the procedure, but there have been twice as more cases where the patient has been satisfied. People associate root canal therapy to the pain they felt before the procedure, and so, saying that a root canal is painful isn’t necessarily correct. Before we can jump into why a root canal is actually very beneficial, let’s break it down so you can have a better understanding of what happens.

Opening the Root Canal:

If you are having throbbing or pulsating pain coming from your tooth, it is probably because decay has reached the nerve of your tooth or there is an abscess and infection around the tip of your root. If this happens, you need to call a dental professional with emergency hours. They should be able to get you right in and start the first step of the root canal. If the nerve of your tooth is dead, you wouldn't really need anesthesia, but many dentists will give you some localized anesthesia anyways to make sure you are totally at ease and do not feel a thing. If the injection is the part you are afraid of, just remember, the pain lasts for a few seconds and then it is gone. We tend to hype things up in our minds and make situations seem worse than they really are. As long as you know you are in good hands, all you need to focus on is your breathing. Before you know it, the injection will be over.

Once you are fully numb, your dentist will create an access to the root of your tooth by drilling a hole from the biting surface. The bacteria is cleaned out, the decayed nerve tissues are taken out, and the pulp is removed. Specific files are used to make sure the tooth is thoroughly cleaned out. The first part to the procedure is done.

Closing the Root Canal:

The second part of the root canal therapy (RCT) involves closing the tooth back up. Depending on your dentist and the circumstance of your tooth, the tooth may be closed the same day it is opened and cleaned out or it may be left open for drainage, will have medication placed inside, and will be closed during a following appointment. If this is the case, the tooth is not actually left open. A small, temporary filling is placed on the tooth to prevent food and bacteria from entering. Once the tooth is ready to be sealed, a rubbery material is placed inside the tooth. This material is called gutta percha, and it basically replaces the nerve of your tooth. Once the tooth is filled, a more sturdy filling will close the access hole the dentist had made to get into the tooth. This is the final step to your root canal. Most dentists recommend you get a crown placed on top of a tooth that has a root canal to provide strength and support to the tooth.

Now, we can state that a root canal procedure is very beneficial. It saves your tooth from being extracted and it saves you from a lot of pain. There is no reason to fear a root canal procedure. Apart from an extraction, a root canal is the only way to stop a painful tooth from acting up.

If you have any questions regarding root canals or emergency dentists, feel free to call Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS. The office staff will be delighted to help you and answer all your questions. Dr. Kezian has been in the practice for more than 30 years and has done numerous root canal procedures. If a good, experienced dentist is what you need, call his office today.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 http://www.drkezian.com

-N.S.

What Do You Need To Know About Root Canals?

By Arthur Kezian

If you have heard about a root canal therapy but are not aware of what it is, then Dr. Kezian can enlighten you. A root canal is a treatment that can save a person’s decayed or infected tooth. The procedure involves removal of tooth pulp or nerve that provides nourishment to the tooth for saving the tooth from decay or infection. After removal, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed for preventing future health risks. If this treatment is avoided, then tissues surrounding the tooth may become infected which will ultimately result in the formation of abscesses.

Detailed Procedure of the Treatment:

·         “Root Canal” is actually a term used for describing the center cavity that resides in the center of the tooth.

·         Inside there is a soft area called the pulp chamber.

·         The never that provides nourishment lies in the pulp chamber.

·         During the treatment, that nerve is removed for preventing the growth of infection.

·         After removal, the pulp chamber is cleaned and sealed for avoiding future risks.

What Will Happen When the Nourishing Nerve Gets Removed?

·         Actually, nothing. Although that nerve is known as the nourishment providing never, it is not necessary for the health of a tooth.

·         Its function is sensory, meaning if it is removed, you will not feel temperature around that tooth (hot or cold sensation).

Importance of This Treatment:

·         If treatment is avoided, then the infection will grow continuously.

·         Growth of infection will result in the blockage of the tissue of a tooth.

·         If tissue gets broken, an abscess will eventually form. 

·         Slowly the infection will spread around the surrounding teeth and will cause a lot of pain.

Causes of Nerve or Pulp Damage:

There are a number of reasons behind the damage of a nerve or pulp. Some of them are given below:

·         Irritation or infection by tooth decay

·         Several dental treatments to the same tooth

·         Large fillings

·         A crack or a chip

·         A facial trauma

Symptoms of Pulp Damage:

Symptoms vary, and sometimes there may be no symptom at all. However, a dentist will agree that some classic signs of the problem include:

·         Severe toothache while applying pressure for chewing

·         Sensitivity in gums

·         Swollen gums

·         Darkening of the tooth

Along with these given signals, a pimple on the gums is sign of abscess and indicates that treatment is necessary.

Are There Any Side Effects of This Treatment?

Generally there are no side effects in most cases. Treatments provided by Dr. Kezian and staff have a fair success rate of 95%, but like other treatments, misdiagnosis is possible in this one too. New problems may take place after the treatment; some of those problems are:

·         Undetected crack in the root of a tooth

·         Eventual blockage on inner sealing material

However, chances of any infection are very rare and most treatments get completed successfully.

Are There Any Alternatives?

There are alternatives, but this one is the most common treatment that is applied to the patient by a root canal dentist. Generally, there are only three treatments for preventing the infection that is originating in the pulp:

·         Root Canal

·         Endodontic surgery

·         Extraction

The top 2 methods are used for preserving the tooth and stopping the infection, while the last treatment is applied only if salvage is impossible. Among the top 2 treatments, which one should be applied depends on the level of damage that has happened because of infection. This is decided by dentist.

If you are facing any of the above given symptoms and need a root canal, then make an appointment with Dr. Kezian as soon as possible for a diagnosis of the problem.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777

-N.S.

Getting the Best Service from an Experienced Endodontist

By Arthur Kezian

Any patient who is having immense tooth pain may be advised to getting a root canal treatment for a badly infected tooth. It could be a tooth with significant decay or enhanced sensitivity which gives rise to intense pain frequently.

A root canal can be used to save most of these teeth by a skilled endodontist. Extraction of the tooth should be the last resort.

Indications

Hence, one should take note of the various indications for a root canal treatment which include spontaneous throbbing or frequent pain while biting, an increased level of sensitivity to cold or hot and severe decay of a tooth.

These indications should lead one to consult an experienced endodontist specialist for further consultation on undergoing a root canal treatment where the infected nerve tissue can be removed. If not, the infected pulp tissue will cause future abscess and more intense pain.

Procedure

A root canal dentist can provide a procedure that is intense as it involves accessing the nerve of the infected tooth. The endodontist would create an opening at the top portion of the infected tooth carefully with a local anesthetic; this is to determine the root canals’ length to remove the infected pulp.

The nerve canal is also reshaped and cleaned thoroughly to be filled with a special material at the second visit of the root canal procedure. Each visit will work on the identified nerves that are in the affected tooth, checking if they are affected and need removing.

The last step in a procedure is to seal the nerve canals with gutta percha which is a plastic material that is sterile to prevent possible infection. The dentist would place a post, core and crown to close up the procedure for a normal form tooth that would provide normal functioning.

Functionality

Many patients shy off from an effective dentist as they believe that the removal of the nerves makes the tooth ‘dead’, but the tooth still receives its blood supply from surrounding tissues which are holding it in its proper place inside the jaw bone.

Although the treated tooth may not be sensitive to hot or cold, it will respond or be functional with biting pressures which allow one to proceed with the normal diets. A proper restoration and after-procedure care will enable the treated tooth to last just as long as the other teeth.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N,S,

What to Do After Root Canal?

By Arthur Kezian

In my last post, I answered the question of what a root canal is and why a dentist would suggest that you have one done. Now, I'd like to give a little guidance as to how to take care of yourself after root canal therapy and the postoperative instructions to follow.

POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Discomfort is sometimes experienced after a treatment visit because of irritation of the bone surrounding the tooth and may range from a mild discomfort in the area to an occasional episode of considerable pain. This discomfort will usually maximize in approximately 48-72 hours and then subside.

Avoid chewing on the treated tooth for a few days.

2. If a throbbing sensation occurs, keep your head elevated as much as possible and place extra pillows under your head when lying down.

Avoid any strenuous activity as much as possible.

3. If your tooth has been left open to aid in drainage of an infection, place cotton in your tooth as directed.

Do not leave the cotton in the tooth between meals.

4. If your gums swell, rinse the area every 1-2 hours with a solution of warm salt water prepared by adding a teaspoon of salt to an eight-ounce glass of warm water.

5. If your face swells, apply an ice pack to the area for 5 minutes every ½ hour.

6. If antibiotic medication has been prescribed, take it as indicated until you have finished ALL of the medication.

If you encounter any difficulty in breathing, a skin rash, or gastric disturbance, discontinue the medication and call the office.

* If medication for pain has been prescribed, take it as indicated. It is important to bear in mind that narcotic medications such as Codeine, Vicodin, Percodan and Demerol may make you drowsy. Therefore, caution should be exercised in operating any potentially dangerous machinery or an automobile.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.