Root Canal Dentist - Canarsie Brooklyn 

Sometimes when problems occur in the tooth, root canal treatment may be required. This is a process whereby the tooth is saved by accessing and treating decay or infection at the root. Our dentists are focused on providing an analysis of your condition as swiftly as possible, as symptoms can often be quite painful. Issues leading to the necessity of root canal treatment can include heightened sensitivity; swelling; abscess; localized toothache.

At Canarsie Family Dentistry we always aim to preserve the tooth before resorting to extraction. Root canal treatment is an effective way to preserve a tooth when decay or infection has adversely impacted its health.

Treatment usually takes place over more than one appointment, ensuring each step required to clear away affected tissue has been successful. After anesthetic, the root of the tooth is accessed and cleaned, ready to receive filler, and the tooth’s root canal washed and treated before sealing to prevent infection.

After treatment, antibiotics may be prescribed to ensure the complete eradication of infection in the tooth during the healing process. Allow us to advise and support you throughout your root canal treatment and recovery. At Canarsie Family Dentistry, the goal of our team is to ensure you have access to appropriate medication for your comfort, returning you to full health and an uninterrupted lifestyle without delay.

What Is The Dental Pulp (The Nerve Centre)?

It is the name given to the soft tissue that resides inside the tooth and runs through the root of your tooth. The dental pulp is composed of the coronal pulp that resides in the crown part of the tooth and the radicular pulp that resides in the root canal. The dental pulp consists of blood vessels, tissue fibres and nerve fibres. If the dental pulp becomes diseased, infected or dies a toothache or abscess may occur.

How Does The Pulp Become Diseased?

A variety of conditions can lead to irreversible damage of the pulp.

1. Deep decay. This is by far the most common cause of the pulp damage, which allows bacteria to reach into the pulp. The pulp may then become inflamed or infected and abscess could result, this could cause pain and swelling.
2. Deep fillings.
3. Trauma to the tooth.
4. Tooth fracture.
5. Gum disease.
6. Sometimes there is not apparent cause.

What Are The Methods Of Removing Infected Pulp?

1. Root canal treatment (Endodontic Treatment). It is a safe procedure undertaken to relieve pain and save your tooth with a diseased dental pulp. There is no real substitute for your own tooth.
2. Extraction of the tooth. A missing tooth may cause the following problems:
   • Drifting of the adjacent teeth
   • Loss of space and the supporting bone
   • Over eruption of the opposing tooth
   • Food trap that would cause gum disease
   • Possibility of fracture of the teeth adjacent to the missing one as they will be under more strain

What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?

1. A preoperative radiograph (X ray) is taken to assess the health of the dental pulp and surrounding tissue. This would also help to determine the shape and number of root canal/s inside the tooth.
2. Access is gained through the crown part of the tooth. This will allow the decay to be removed and Endodontic treatment to be commenced.
3. The infected or damaged and diseased dental pulp is removed from the root canal/s of the tooth through the small access opening in the crown.
4. The length of the root canal/s is measured by a combination of an electronic device called the apex locator and X rays.
5. The root canal/s then cleaned and shaped with fine endodontic files. The root canals are also washed with an antiseptic solution.
6. The root canals are then sealed with a permanent, rubber-like filling material called GP (Gutta Percha)

This treatment can take several appointments depending on the tooth complexity, number and shape of root canals.

Sedative, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial dressing is placed inside the canal/s and a temporary filling is used to seal of the access cavity inside your tooth between each dental appointment to help your tooth to settle down.

Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?

Local anaesthesia and pain killers are used to provide comfortable treatment.

How Successful Is Root Canal Treatment?

Your tooth will only be treated if there is a good chance that it will last for a long time.
Studies have shown that if the root canals are fully cleaned and sealed and the tooth is properly restored then the treatment has a very high success rate, however, different people may have varied healing responses and some infections may respond differently. If your case considered less favorable then you will be informed.

How Much Does It Cost?

Root canal treatment is a complex procedure and the cost depends on the type of the tooth, number and shape of root canals. In general, back teeth have curved, fine and multiple canals. If a back tooth is heavily filled these canals may be calcified and are more difficult to locate and treat effectively. A cost estimate will be provided once a preoperative radiograph is taken and your tooth is thoroughly examined.

How Is A Tooth Restored Following Root Canal Treatment?

Teeth require root canal treatment have large fillings or extensive damage. The removal of the nerve centre of the tooth will further weaken these teeth. Therefore, crowning of a root canal filled tooth is important to protect the tooth from potential fractures. This should be undertaken as soon as your tooth is settled down and the infection is showing signs of healing. Catastrophic fracture of a root filled tooth can lead to tooth extraction.

Is There Any Risk Involved In Endodontic Treatment?

As with any other complex dental procedure, root canal treatment has minor risk involved with it.

1. Instrument separation. The fine endodontic files used in root canal treatment can be subjected to stresses they may cause the metal to fatigue and consequently lead to instrument fracture. Sometimes these are retrievable but they may also be sealed in the root canal as part of the filling. Referral to a specialist may sometimes be necessary to tackle the problem with the fractured instrument.
2. Pain. On occasion patients might experience minor pain following the first visit of root canal therapy. That is usually caused by the chemical and mechanical trauma to the already sensitive surrounding tissues. This could be controlled in the majority of cases with pain killers and sometimes systemic antibiotics.
3. Loss of the coronal restoration. In some instances root canal therapy is carried out through an existing and intact crown restoration. The process of drilling an access cavity through an intact crown restoration may seriously compromise its strength and lead to the loss of the restoration.
4. Tooth fracture. During the course of root canal therapy and sometimes prior to placing a crown restoration the root filled tooth could fracture under the masticator loading (chewing).
5. Failure of the treatment. Generally, root canal therapy has a high success rate. However, there are some cases that would not respond to endodontic treatment for several technical and biological reasons.

We aim to make any pit stop as brief as possible and get your smile back on the road.