Crowns are cast in gold, porcelain fused with metal, ceramic or resin in the shape of the original tooth. Root canals and crown placements are considered endodontic procedures, but they are sometimes performed by endodontists and sometimes regular dentists. Before root canal treatment begins, you will be given a local anesthetic, a medication to numb that part of your mouth and not feel any pain during the procedure. A dental guard will be placed around the tooth. The endodontist will open the crown (top) of the tooth and remove the pulp.
They will then clean, reshape and enlarge the root canal, the pathway from the pulp to the jaw, using small files. They can also apply medicines to the area to stop an infection. If you are referred to an endodontist for root canal treatment, you may be surprised to learn that, despite how critical the procedure is to saving your natural tooth, you will also need a second procedure to ensure your long-term success. Most of the time, the endodontist will recommend placing a crown on the tooth with the root canal. To understand why, it's helpful to review what root canal treatments do and the aftercare needed to support them.
No, the crown is rarely removed to retreat the root canal. In many cases, the endodontist can go through the crown and complete the treatment. Your dentist will tell you if you need a new crown or if the old one can be repaired. Root canal therapy is a dental procedure in which an endodontist or dentist gains access to the center of a tooth to eliminate an infection. Infection that has reached the roots of a tooth is called pulpitis, or infection of the pulp (tissue) deep inside a tooth.
Pulpitis occurs when advanced tooth decay is not treated. It can also occur when a sudden trauma damages a tooth and allows infection to enter the pulp. A tooth that needs root canal treatment can be painful, but the procedure will help put an end to all that pain. Ask your dentist or endodontist for more details on the specific restoration planned for your tooth. Endodontists receive two or more additional years of training after dental school to specialize in treating tooth and root canal pain. Unless your dentist or endodontist tells you otherwise, brush and floss as you would regularly after root canal treatment.
Dentists can also perform root canals, but an endodontist has much more experience doing them. An endodontist will not necessarily attempt to perform the root canal through a smaller access cavity, because having adequate access is key to the success of the procedure. However, the choice of general anesthesia varies from endodontist to endodontist, and it's best to consult your local office about their policies. The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Generally speaking, a dentist specializes in the external health of the teeth and gums, an endodontist specializes in the health of the inside of the tooth.
During the first few days after a root canal, some patients experience tenderness, swelling, or inflammation, while others experience an irregular bite or a reaction to medication provided by the endodontist. While all general dentists have been trained in root canal treatments, most of the time the procedure is performed by an endodontist. You can eat normally before a root canal treatment, and most endodontists even allow patients to eat up to 1 hour before a procedure. If the tooth lacks sufficient structure to keep the restoration in place, your dentist or endodontist may place a post inside the tooth. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts longer than a few days, call your endodontist.
Root canal treatment is performed when the endodontist removes the infected pulp and nerve at the root of the tooth, cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. The most common procedure performed by endodontists is root canal treatment, a procedure in which they remove the nerve from the tooth and dental pulp that has been damaged or infected. .
