Endodontics

A root canal is a term used to describe the natural cavity in the center of a tooth. This area contains a soft area known as the pulp chamber that houses the nerves. If this area becomes irritated or infected due to cavities, trauma or decay, root canal therapy is necessary. If left untreated, the infection can cause an abscess, which can lead to swelling of the face and neck and bone loss around the roots of teeth.

Traumatic dental injuries often occur in accidents or sports-related injuries. Although chipped teeth account for the majority of all dental injuries, dislodged and knocked-out teeth, along with root fractures are all considered traumatic injuries. No matter what type of dental injury you have, you should see a dentist or endodontist immediately.

Chipped or Fractured Teeth

There are different factors that would determine treatment for your chipped or fractured tooth. Most chipped or fractured teeth can be replaced by reattaching the broken piece or by placing a tooth-colored filling in the chipped area. If a significant part of the tooth is broken off, an artificial cap may be needed for restoration. Root canal treatment or extraction may also be necessary under certain circumstances.

Dislodged Teeth

Root canal treatment is usually needed for secondary teeth that have been dislodged. Children may not require treatment since their teeth are still developing. However, it is important to see a dentist or endodontist so that he or she can determine what the best option is for you or your child.

Knocked-Out Teeth

If your tooth is completely knocked out of your mouth, see an endodontist or dentist immediately. The length of time the tooth was out of the mouth will determine the chances of saving the tooth. The tooth will be placed back in the socket, and a stabilizing splint with be placed for a few weeks.

Root Fractures

Depending on the type of injury to your tooth, you may sustain a horizontal root fracture. In this case, the tooth may need to be stabilized with a splint for a required period of time.

If you've sustained oral trauma, it's important to contact us right away for treatment that can save your tooth or teeth. Contact Select Dental Care at (954) 752-9065without delay.

Internal bleaching is much different than whitening the outside of the tooth. Despite the general ease and affordability of the procedure, many aren’t even aware of the possibility to bleach teeth in such a manner, causing them to go years with stained teeth in their “smile-zone.” Studies show the procedure is safe and has good long-term results.

There are different processes for internal bleaching, depending on whether the tooth in question is stained because of prior root canal treatment, or because it’s in need of root canal treatment. Your dentist at Select Dental Care will evaluate which process is needed in your particular case. Call our office at (954) 752-9065for a consultation.

If your child is complaining of a toothache, it might be because he or she has a large cavity. In this case, we’ll do a pulpotomy to remove the damaged pulp. A pulpotomy is a fairly common procedure for decayed baby molars.

During a pulpotomy, we first remove damaged tissue, sterilize the area, and then replace the pulp with a medicated filling. Sometimes, it is then necessary to place a crown to restore the structure and appearance of the tooth. A pulpotomy is usually very successful in saving a badly decayed baby molar.

Cavities that affect the pulp of the tooth can be quite painful. If your child is experiencing severe tooth pain, he or she may need a pulpotomy. Call Select Dental Care at (954) 752-9065to schedule an appointment.

Endodontists are specially trained to treat these difficult situations through apexification. The goal of this treatment is to form a hard tissue barrier at the end of a root with an open apex. This allows the root canal to be sealed in a traditional manner.

Apexification is often successful, however, there are some instances when the root end barrier does not form or the resorption process continues. Situations such as these may require surgical treatment of the root end or necessitate the removal of the tooth.

Contact Select Dental Care at (954) 752-9065for more information about this procedure.

It is not uncommon to find incompletely developed teeth that require some form of endodontic intervention due to extensive cavities or traumatic injury. When such a situation presents itself, an assessment of the pulp (the part in the center of a tooth made up of living connective tissue and cells) and the degree of tooth development must be made in order to develop a treatment plan for long-term tooth retention.

How Is a Cracked Tooth Treated?

A cracked tooth means a crack extends from the chewing surface of your tooth vertically toward the root. The tooth is not yet separated into pieces, though the crack may gradually spread. Early diagnosis is important in order to save the tooth. If the crack has extended into the pulp, the tooth can be treated with a root canal procedure and a crown to protect the crack from spreading. A cracked tooth that is not treated will progressively worsen. If the crack extends below the gum line, it is no longer treatable, and the tooth will need to be extracted. That’s why early treatment is so important. 

What Can I Do to Prevent My Teeth from Cracking?

While cracked teeth are not completely preventable, you can take some steps to make your teeth less susceptible to cracks:

• Don't chew on hard objects such as ice, unpopped popcorn kernels or pens.
• Don't clench or grind your teeth.
• If you clench or grind your teeth while you sleep, talk to your dentist about getting a retainer or other mouthguard to protect your teeth.
• Wear a mouthguard or protective mask when playing contact sports.

If you think you have a cracked tooth, contact Select Dental Care at (954) 752-9065without delay. Early treatment can save your tooth.

Nerves and blood vessels enter the tooth through the apex. Sometimes, even after root canal treatment, infected tissue can remain. This can prevent healing or cause re-infection later. In a surgical procedure called an apicoectomy, the root tip, or apex, is removed along with the infected tissue. A filling is then placed to seal the end of the root.

An apicoectomy is done only after a tooth has had at least one root canal procedure and retreatment has not been successful or is not possible. For example, retreatment is often not a good option when a tooth has a crown or is part of a bridge. Retreatment of the root canal would require cutting through the crown or bridge. That might destroy or weaken the crown or bridge.

The Apicoectomy Procedure

The endodontist will make a small incision in your gum and lift the gum away from the tooth and bone. The dentist may need to use a drill to gain access to the root. The infected tissue will be removed along with the last few millimeters of the root tip. To complete the apicoectomy, the endodontist will clean and seal the end of the tooth's canal. The cleaning usually is done under a special microscope using ultrasonic instruments. The endodontist then will take an X-ray of the area before stitching the tissue back in place.

Most apicoectomies take 30 to 90 minutes. The length will depend on the location of the tooth and the complexity of the root structure. Procedures on front teeth are generally the shortest. Those on lower molars generally take the longest.

Your dentist at Select Dental Care will determine whether you need an apicoectomy. Call us at Select Dental Care.