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The Basics of What a Root Canal Is

If your dentist or endodontist recommends you undergo a root canal procedure to treat a damaged or diseased tooth, there’s no reason to worry. A root canal can relieve pain and restore your teeth to a happy, healthy state. Let’s learn the basics of what a root canal is so that you can head into the procedure feeling confident.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal, also known as endodontic treatment, is a serious procedure, but dentists and endodontists deal with it every day. To understand what a root canal is, you’ll need to know something about the tooth’s anatomy. Inside the tooth, beneath the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a softer tissue known as the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues, and it creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during development. The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the roots, where it connects to the root’s surrounding tissues. The pulp is vital when your teeth are growing and developing, but mature teeth can survive without it. Occasionally, the pulp can develop inflammation and infections that result from deep decay, repeated dental procedures, or a crack or chip on the tooth. Without treatment, inflammation or infection can lead to pain or an abscess.

How Do I Know If I Need a Root Canal?

There are a few telltale signs you might require a root canal. Watch out for:

  • Severe pain when chewing or biting
  • Pimples on the gums
  • A chipped or cracked tooth
  • Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
  • Swollen or tender gums
  • Deep decay or darkening of the gums

If you suspect you need a root canal, be sure to discuss your concerns with your dentist or endodontist. They can inspect your tooth, determine the cause of your symptoms, and recommend the appropriate treatment.

How Does Endodontic Treatment Save the Tooth?

Now that you understand the basics of what a root canal is and when you need one, let’s learn more about the procedure. A root canal is relatively painless and extremely effective; plus, your dental professional will be able to complete the process in just one or two appointments. During the procedure, the dentist or endodontist will remove the inflamed or infected pump. Then, they’ll carefully clean, shape, and fill the inside of the root canal. Afterward, you’ll return to receive a crown or another type of restoration. Once this step is complete, your tooth will continue to function like any other tooth. Getting a root canal should eliminate most, if not all, of the unpleasant symptoms associated with infected or inflamed pulp. The procedure comes with multiple benefits, including:

  • Efficient chewing
  • Normal biting sensation
  • Natural tooth appearance
  • Protection against excessive wear or strain

If you’re looking for a skilled, reliable dentist to perform your root canals in Riverview, Florida, Dr. Castellano can help. We’ll restore your teeth so that you can walk out of our office happy, healthy, and with a winning smile.

What is a porcelain fused to metal crown

By chris castellano • 25 Jun, 2023
Porcelain fused to metal crowns (PFM crowns) are metal crowns with a layer of porcelain fused on the metal. This makes them almost as durable as pure metal crowns but a lot more esthetic. PFM crowns used to be the most popular crowns in dentistry for a long time. They are still used today, but nowadays ceramic crowns are preferred, especially for front teeth restorations. PFM crowns are more affordable than all-ceramic crowns. Even though they are not as esthetic as porcelain crowns they are still good candidates for back teeth restorations. They are used on: posterion teeth conjuction with partial dentures when durable metal rests are needed

What are the signs I need a root canal?

By chris castellano • 25 Jun, 2023
-Severe tooth pain while chewing -Your tooth pain wakes you up at night -Teeth that are highly sensitive to hot or cold, with the sensitivity lingering for some time. -Discoloration or darkening of the tooth -Swollen gums in the area of the infected tooth

How long does it take to remove all 4 impacted wisdom teeth?

By chris castellano • 24 Jun, 2023
Most wisdom tooth removal surgeries last about 40-90 minutes. Even if you're having all four of your wisdom teeth removed at once, the procedure typically takes an hour. If your wisdom teeth are in a difficult position or there are unexpected difficulties, the surgery may take a bit longer.

Do All 4 Wisdom Teeth Come in at the Same time?

By chris castellano • 24 Jun, 2023
No! All 4 wisdom teeth do not always come in at the same time, but they will always be the last set of teeth to come in. As a general rule of thumb, lower teeth usually erupts before upper teeth and teeth in both jaws erupt in pairs one on the right and one on the left. It is most common for the bottom row to erupt before the top. It is also not unheard of for the top to erupt first and it is also possible for one set to come in while the other doesn’t. Several factors can influence the permanent tooth eruption pattern such as Heredity, how they are growing and the condition of the tooth and size of the jaw .

Cost to Remove All 4 Wisdom Teeth

By chris castellano • 24 Jun, 2023
Multiple factors may influence the cost of a wisdom teeth removal . The American dental Association has about 6 billing (CDT) c odes to make the cases simpler for patients, insurance companies and providers to understand . Each tooth depending on which category code it falls to will cost $250 – $800 for each tooth for patients without insurance. Insurances typically pay less, and most offices also offer multiple extractions discounts when doing all four wisdom teeth removal during the same appointment.

Is it rare to have all 4 wisdom teeth?

By chris castellano • 24 Jun, 2023
No, it is not rare at all to have all 4 wisdom teeth in fact having four wisdom teeth is the most common. Some patients have less than 4 while some have more than 4. In this instance, the extra wisdom teeth are called supernumerary teeth. Having less or more is rare relative to the number of people that have all 4. So if you have all 4 wisdom teeth you are actually in the majority not the minority.

Do they put you to sleep when you get all 4 wisdom teeth out?

By chris castellano • 24 Jun, 2023
NO! You do not necessarily have to be put to sleep for all 4 wisdom teeth removal. All 4 wisdom teeth can be safely and painlessly removed while the patient is fully awake with the mouth Numbed with local anesthesia. While Most patients are just fine with a local anesthesia to pull all 4 wisdom teeth, this is not always so for all patients, especially those who have had a terrible experience or have a very high level of anxiety and low tolerance for pain. Discuss your concerns with your Dentist.

How do I properly take care of my denture?

By chris castellano • 17 Dec, 2022
Like your natural teeth, your dentures should be brushed daily to remove food particles and plaque. Brushing also can help keep the teeth from staining.  Rinse your dentures before brushing to remove any loose food or debris. Use a soft bristle toothbrush and a non-abrasive cleanser to gently brush all the surfaces of the dentures so they don't get scratched. When brushing, clean your mouth thoroughly—including your gums, cheeks, roof of your mouth and tongue to remove any plaque. This can help reduce the risk of oral irritation and bad breath. When you’re not wearing your dentures, put them in a safe place covered in water to keep them from warping. Occasionally, denture wearers may use adhesives. Adhesives come in many forms: creams, powders, pads/wafers, strips or liquids. If you use one of these products, read the instructions, and use them exactly as directed. Your dentist can recommend appropriate cleansers and adhesives; look for products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Products with the ADA Seal have been evaluated for safety and effectiveness.

Is it painful to get a root canal?

By chris castellano • 09 Dec, 2022
Is it painful to get a root canal?

Cracked Tooth Sydrome

By chris castellano • 09 Dec, 2022
Ever bite hard and experience sharp pain on a tooth? This could be due to a crack in the tooth into the nerve chamber. As you chew, the tooth will flex about the crack and rip on the nerve inside. If pain goes away quick (within seconds of release), the treatment is a crown. If the condition goes untreated, cracks widens and the pain becomes more constant. Root canal and crown will need to be done if the crack isn't too deep. Deep cracks can cause the tooth to be non-restorable requiring extraction. It's beneficial to catch this quick as soon as it happens to avoid costly treatment and pain
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