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Posts for tag: root canal
If you are pleased with your smile except for that one front tooth that appears darker, then we have good news for you. Often a tooth appears darker as a result of trauma that may have occurred years ago. Your tooth may need root canal treatment or may have already had root canal treatment in the past. Regardless, you can whiten this tooth via a process called internal bleaching. And as the name suggests, the tooth can be bleached from the inside out. Here's a brief summary of how this entire process works:
- Performing an x-ray exam: The first step is to take a radiograph (x-ray) to make sure that your root canal filling is intact adequately sealing the root canal and the surrounding bone is healthy.
- Making an access hole: To apply the bleaching agent, a small hole will need to be made in the back of your tooth to apply the bleach. However, before doing that, the area must be thoroughly cleaned and irrigated.
- Sealing above the root canal filling: This step is critical to prevent the bleach from leaking into the root canal space.
- Applying the bleach: To obtain the whitening needed, it typically requires between one and four office visits for additional bleaching.
- Applying a permanent restoration: Once your tooth has lightened to the desired color, a permanent filling will be placed over the small hole to seal your tooth's dentin. This is then covered with tooth-colored composite resin (filling material) so that the access hole is undetectable to the naked eye.
To learn more about this procedure and see amazing before and after images, continue reading the Dear Doctor article, “Whitening Traumatized Teeth.” Or, you can contact us to discuss your questions or to schedule an appointment.
By Artistic & Family Dental
November 27, 2011
Category:
Dental Procedures
Tags:
oral health
root canal
Test yourself on your knowledge of this dental procedure.
- A root canal is
- A canal shaped structure in the root of your tooth
- A blood vessel carrying blood from your gum to your tooth
- An instrument used by your dentist in performing dental surgery
- Which of these are symptoms of root canal infection?
- Sharp, acute and intense pain, which is difficult to pinpoint
- Sharp pain when biting down on your tooth or on food
- Lingering pain after eating hot or cold foods
- Dull ache and pressure
- Tenderness (accompanied by swelling) in the nearby gums
- All the above
- If you don't feel any pain you do not have a root canal infection.
- True
- False
- Root canal treatment is a very painful experience.
- True
- False
- Root canal treatment is called endodontic therapy. What does this word mean?
- Bringing the end of your problems
- Inside your tooth
- Fighting gum disease
- You need root canal treatment if
- The inside or pulp of your tooth becomes inflamed or infected
- Your tooth needs to be gently moved in order to correct your bite
- Acid erosion is damaging your tooth
- During root canal treatment the canals in your teeth are cleaned out and sealed off.
- True
- False
- Who is qualified to perform root canal treatment?
- General dentists
- Endodontists
- Both of the above
- a. A root canal is a canal shaped space within the root of a tooth that holds the tooth's pulp — which contains the tooth's nerves and blood vessels.
- f. — all of the above
- False. It is possible to have an infection that has stopped hurting but is still present and causing damage.
- False. Root canal treatment doesn't cause pain, it relieves it.
- b. The word comes from roots meaning “inside” and “tooth.”
- a.
- True. A small opening is made in the chewing surface of your tooth to gain access to the pulp. Dead and dying tissue is removed and the pulp is cleaned and disinfected. The canals are shaped and then sealed with filling materials to prevent future infection.
- c. All general dentists have received training in endodontic treatment and can perform most endodontic procedures. They often refer people needing complicated root canal treatment to endodontists, who have had specialized training in endodontic diagnosis and treatment.
