Prevention is the best form of treatment
Across the country, a rising number of people – both young and old – are taking the initiative to seek out much needed dental care, and achieve a straight, and healthier looking smile. That said, there are still a great many people within the Birmingham area and beyond, who refrain from seeking out much needed, vital dental care. The most common cause of tooth loss in adults is periodontal (or gum) disease, which is often easily avoided, and treatable by an endodontist in Birmingham, if caught early enough.
Getting to the root of the problem
It is the role of an endodontist to deal with any issue which is related to the root of a patient’s teeth, and they are well versed in the numerous causes and resolutions for how to keep a patient’s teeth healthy, and the patient happy. An endodontist is an expert in a specialised field of dentistry. It is estimated that less than 3% of all dentists go on to become endodontists, as it requires an additional three years of study. Diagnosing tooth pain is a large aspect of the role of an endodontist, as well as establishing the severity of the pain and the necessary course of treatment that is required. This can vary from the patient experiencing moderate, sudden sensitivity to heat or cold, to constant and severe pain and swelling of the gum – which is generally indicative of a more severe problem, such as periodontal, or gum disease.
Root canal treatment
Another key aspect of the role of an endodontist, is to carry out root canal treatment. This is a complex dental procedure which is opted for in instances where a patient’s tooth has become badly infected or decayed. The basis of the procedure is to remove the nerve and pulp from the interior of the patient’s teeth, and the tooth is cleaned on the inside, before being sealed back up. If treatment is not carried out, it may result in abscesses forming, or the entire tooth having to be removed. The term ‘root canal’ is used to describe the cavity or canals within the tooth, in which the nerves and pulp are located. The nerves within the tooth are not entirely vital, and only act as a means of determining sensation – such as hot or cold. As such, if the pulp and nerves of a tooth become infected it is paramount that they be removed, to avoid any detrimental effects such as bone loss of the surrounding tooth, or swelling of the face. The process of undertaking root canal treatment through an endodontist would initially consist of the patient being administered general or local anaesthetic, to ensure there is no discomfort during the procedure. Next, the endodontist would create an opening within the infected tooth, before using an endodontic file to remove the infected pulp and clean the interior of the tooth. Thereafter, the empty tooth canal would be plugged with a dental filling, before inserting a post which will aid reconstruction of the tooth. Finally, the recovered canal is sealed with a crown, and thus the patient’s tooth is restored fully and all risk of further infection is eradicated.
