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Many patients are concerned with the outer appearance and health of their teeth, but our dentist and team are here to help make sure the inner workings of your teeth are also at their best. We offer endodontic surgery in Pasadena, California, for patients who need treatment in the root canals of their teeth. If you are experiencing severe tooth discomfort or if you just want to check on the complete oral health of your teeth, call 626-795-3301 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph E. Abe.
Endodontics is the field of dentistry focused on dental pulp, which is the living connective tissues at the center of a tooth. The pulp contains nerves and vessels that connect the tooth to the gum tissue and thereby the rest of the body, making it an important part of not just your oral health but your overall health. Damage to or infection in the dental pulp can lead to severe discomfort and toothaches, and if the pulp is not treated quickly enough, the tooth may die and require extraction. Endodontic treatment can restore the health of your tooth with damaged dental pulp so that it can remain in your mouth.
At our office, we offer multiple endodontic treatments. Our dentist will discuss your options for treatment if you need endodontic care. We will also keep you comfortable during any endodontic treatment with advanced tools, techniques and anesthesia.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy, also known as just a root canal to many patients, is perhaps the most well-known endodontic treatment. The dental pulp of your tooth resides inside of its root canal. When damage or infection reaches the dental pulp of a tooth, treatment is needed quickly before the damage destroys the tooth entirely and necessitates a tooth extraction.
In a root canal treatment, our dentist can remove the damaged dental pulp entirely from the root canal of the tooth. The canal is then cleaned and filled with medicated dental material, and the tooth is usually capped with a new dental crown to protect it from further damage.
Apical Surgery
Also called apicoectomy, apical surgery may be recommended when your tooth does not heal properly or develops a new infection after a root canal treatment. In an apical surgery, the apex of the tooth root is removed. The apex is the very tip of a tooth root that extends into your jawbone, keeping your tooth stable and secure. If the apex becomes irritated, damaged or infected, apical surgery may provide relief and prevent the need for tooth extraction.
In apical surgery, a small incision is made in the gum tissues near the tooth. This allows our dentist to get to the jawbone. We can remove the apex and any other damaged tissue from this access point.
Retrofill Surgery
After the apex of a tooth root is removed in an apical surgery, the root canal inside the tooth is exposed. To protect your tooth and its root canal, we can seal the end of the root canal with retrofill surgery using a medicated root end filling material. This can provide both relief and protection for your oral health.
Root Amputation
A root amputation is most commonly performed on the back molars, but all teeth have roots that can be amputated if our dentist and team determine it is needed. When the root of a tooth is damaged, broken, infected or decayed, amputating the root may save the tooth from being extracted entirely. A root amputation may also be recommended in cases of severe gum disease that have led to concentrated areas of bone loss.
In a root amputation, we begin with a root canal treatment. The root canal contains the dental pulp, which has many nerves and blood vessels, so we want to first remove this pulp before removing the root. Once the root canal therapy has been completed, we will make an incision in the gum tissue to access the tooth root, section off the root and remove it from the jawbone. We will stabilize the rest of the tooth with a filling or crown so that you can continue using it for normal oral function.
Endodontic treatments can allow you to keep your teeth in your mouth. If you are experiencing tooth discomfort and think you may need endodontic care, please call our office to schedule your consultation with our dentist.