Each one of your teeth is its own system and is made up of three layers, and each one is important in its own way. If you develop a problem with the pulp in the interior of one of your teeth, our dentist can relieve your pain and restore the health of the tooth with an endodontic treatment in Sacramento, California. To give your smile the treatment it needs, call Sierra Oaks Dental at (916) 481-2000 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Peter Kim.
What Is Endodontics?
Endodontics is the dental specialty focused on what many patients might not even think about: the inside of a tooth. In particular, endodontic treatments target the dental pulp inside of a tooth. The pulp is the tissue and cells at the center of a tooth that keep it connected to the rest of the body. This is also where the nerves and blood vessels of a tooth are.
Why Opt for Endodontics?
If injury or disease reaches the inner area of a tooth, this can create discomfort or sensitivity for the patient. Infection or damage in the dental pulp can lead to serious problems if it is untreated, the worst being the need for an extraction. In the past, tooth extraction was the only option when pulp was damaged, but in modern dentistry, the pulp can now be treated or removed so that you can keep your tooth.
Benefits of Endodontics
Endodontic treatment is meant to restore a damaged tooth to full health so that it can safely and comfortably remain in the mouth. The pulp has a connection to the rest of your biological system, so it is important that it is healthy and functional for not only your oral health but your overall body health. Preserving the health of your pulp will allow you to keep your natural tooth so that you can eat, speak and smile normally.
Process of Receiving Endodontics
We will first examine the damage in the inner portion of your tooth using X-ray scanning. From there, we will determine the appropriate endodontic treatment to address your needs.
You may have heard of a root canal treatment. This is the most common type of endodontic treatment, and while many are afraid of it, it can actually be a comfortable and easy process. At the start of root canal treatment, our dentist and team will enter the affected tooth and remove the damaged and infected pulp. A tooth does not actually need its pulp to stay healthy and well connected to your body, so after we finish cleaning out the tooth, we will replace it with a safe dental filling that will keep the tooth strong and functional. We will then cap the treated tooth with a restoration, such as a dental crown, to keep it shielded from bacteria or damage.
If root canal therapy is not enough to provide the relief you need or if the tooth becomes reinfected later, we may suggest other types of endodontic treatment. This could be root canal retreatment, apicoectomy, pulpal debridement or pulpotomy.
Cost of Endodontics
The cost of endodontic treatment depends on the damage being treated, the number of teeth affected and the treatment being performed. We will discuss the recommended treatment with you first and go over the cost. We encourage you to ask questions and bring up any concerns you may have about your endodontic treatment and any costs involved. We are dedicated to doing all we can to help restore your oral health and comfort.
Call our team today if you would like to learn more about endodontics and how it can help restore your oral health.
