Endodontics in San Francisco, CA
What is endodontics?
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disease of the dental pulp, the soft inner tissue of the teeth. The pulp tissue contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. Endodontics focuses on the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and injuries that affect the tooth pulp.
Who is an Endodontist?
Endodontists are dentists with advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of dental pulp and root canal procedures. These dentists have dedicated their practice to maintaining teeth through endodontic care and other dental surgeries.
Endodontists complete post-graduate training after dental school and are specialists in the dental field. Their advanced training includes diagnosing and treating dental pulp disease, dental trauma, cracked teeth, malocclusion, TMD, and dental infections.
What does an endodontist do?
Endodontics, also known as root canal therapy, is a dental specialty that focuses on removing diseased or damaged tissue from inside the tooth. The pulp tissue of the tooth can become inflamed due to deep tooth decay and infection. The bacteria present in the inflamed tissue can spread through the mouth and cause serious illnesses like heart disease and stroke, so removing the tissue (and any bacteria) is essential to maintain good oral and overall health.
Endodontists specialize in performing root canal therapy. This treatment removes diseased pulp tissue and bacteria from inside the tooth, thereby saving the tooth and restoring the patient’s oral function. During the procedure, the endodontist removes the infected pulp tissue, cleans and disinfects the inside of the tooth, and then refills the tooth with a dental filling material.
What are the benefits of an endodontic procedure?
Endodontic procedures have a number of benefits, including:
- Saving your natural tooth and preventing the need for extraction
- Preserving the health and strength of the jawbone
- Reducing the risk of bone loss
- Helping you maintain good oral health
- Helping you keep your teeth for a lifetime
- Reducing the risk of further tooth damage
- Providing relief from pain
- Alleviating tooth sensitivity
What happens during endodontic treatment?
Your dental team will provide local anesthesia to numb the area being treated. Next, the tooth will be isolated with a rubber dam. A dental drill will be used to remove the tooth’s pulp and nerve. Once the tooth is sufficiently numb, the canals and chambers will be cleaned, enlarged, and shaped using rotary instruments. The canals will be filled with gutta-percha, a rubbery material. Finally, the tooth will be sealed or restored with a crown or filling.
Call our facility in San Francisco, CA, and request an appointment with Dr. An for further assistance with your endodontic procedures today!
