Root Canal Therapy
Root Canal Therapy is the direct removal of the nerve tissue of a tooth. The canals where the nerves used to lie are cleaned, sterilized and filled with a material compatible with your natural tooth structure. A crown is usually recommended following root canal therapy due to a large amount of tooth structure typically removed during the procedure. A tooth may have more than one nerve dependent on the number of roots the tooth might have. A root canal is required anytime there is death of the nerve tissue of a tooth either through trauma or extensive decay. Signs and Symptoms for possible root canal therapy:
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Pain to hot or cold stimulus
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Abscess or pimple in the gum line around the affected tooth
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Severe tooth ache
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Swelling and or tenderness
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No signs or symptoms need be present.
Endodontic Retreatment
In most situations, proper care of your teeth that have had endodontic treatment will allow them to last as long as your natural teeth. However, in certain situations, a tooth that has been treated may not heal or the individual may continue to feel pain, or the pain may even re-appear months or years after treatment. In such instances, endodontic retreatment may be necessary.
Apicoectomy
Apicoectomy, also known as root end surgery, is an endodontic surgical procedure where a tooth's root tip is removed and a root end cavity is prepared and filled. This procedure is usually necessary when conventional root canal therapy had failed and a re-treatment was already unsuccessful.
Endodontists are dentists who specialize in the treatment of teeth with nerve damage leading to endodontic or root canal therapy. Endodontists are highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of dental conditions and injuries to the dental pulp, root and surrounding tissues of the teeth.