Root Canal Therapy Procedure

Root Canal Therapy Procedure - 4th Street Family Dentistry

Root Canal Therapy Procedure

For many people, the term root canal is scary. Plenty of folks believe that the treatment is extremely invasive and painful, but that is far from the truth. As we all know, most dental procedures are preventive, designed to treat issues and prevent them from becoming more severe down the road. Similarly, root canal therapy is known as one of the best and most effective dental treatments out there.

Root canal therapy is endodontic, meaning it treats the inside of the tooth. To get a good idea of what root canal therapy is, you’ll first have to get a better understanding of a tooth’s inner workings. With a good defense, however, you may never have to know what a root canal is. This includes practicing a consistent and thorough oral hygiene routine and visiting 4th Street Family Dentistry every six months to prevent any dental issues from progressing and becoming severe.

What is a Root Canal?

The teeth are made of three layers; enamel, the outermost protective layer, dentin, a hard layer below it, and soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp, which is located right in the middle of the tooth, contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. It extends from the crown of the tooth down to the tip of the roots inside the root canal.

It connects the nerves and blood vessels in the tooth to the ones in the jaw right below the tip of the tooth root. The pulp is crucial during the developmental stages as it aids in the tooth’s growth and development and supplies nutrients needed to sustain its growth. Once the tooth is fully mature, however, it can easily survive without the pulp. Root canal therapy essentially removes pulp that has been infected from the root canal. This saves the tooth and surrounding teeth from further degradation. But how does the pulp become infected?

It can happen in two ways, deep tooth decay or a fracture that creates an opening for bacteria to enter the pulp. All the best dentists in St. Petersburg, FL, recommend brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing for a good reason. If you don’t, bacteria in the mouth will feed on food debris and form plaque. 

Plaque is acidic, and it strips the enamel of minerals, resulting in tiny holes or openings. The cavities will eat into the enamel and dentin if they aren’t treated. Over time, the bacteria enters the pulp causing an infection. If you have dental decay, contact a St. Pete dentist near you to prevent it from progressing to something more severe like dental decay.

Root Canal Treatment Procedure

Once bacteria have breached the pulp and it becomes inflamed, an emergency root canal therapy in St. Petersburg becomes a necessity. If you don’t seek treatment from a dentist in St. Pete soon enough, the infection can spread to the surrounding nerves, bones, and other teeth. Root canal therapy removes the infected pulp from the root canal and fills the space with a rubbery filling material.

The treatment usually consists of two steps, the root canal therapy itself and other dental procedures to restore the function of the tooth. First, your St. Petersburg, FL dentist, Dr. Leeson will take an x-ray of the tooth to see the shape of the root canals and to determine if the surrounding bone shows any sign of infection. A local anesthetic will be applied to numb the area around the tooth and to make you more relaxed and at ease during the procedure.

Your dentist will then place a rubber sheet around the tooth to keep the area free from saliva and to prevent the bacteria in your mouth from entering the tooth. Once this is done, the dentist will drill a small access hole into the tooth using a dental drill. The pulp, along with the decayed nerve tissue, is removed from the root canal. A series of root canal files of increasing diameter will be inserted into the access hole and used to scrape and scrub the sides of the root canals while water or sodium hypochlorite is used for flushing away the debris.

Post Treatment

Some dentists in St. Petersburg prefer to wait a week before sealing the root canal, especially if the pulp was infected. In that case, they may put medication inside the root canal to clear up the infection before sealing it. In the meantime, a temporary filling is placed to keep out contaminants like saliva and food. Once the infection is cleared, the now hollow root canal is sealed with a soft, rubbery material.

Depending on your smile, you may have to undergo further dental treatments to restore 100% functionality. Our friend Dr. Ben Kacos, an endodontist in Shreveport, LA, says most dentists recommend a buildup to fill the hole in the middle where the access is made and a crown to protect the exterior of the tooth. You may experience some pain and discomfort for 3-4 days after the treatment, which is completely normal. If over the counter pain relievers do not work and you are in pain for five or more days after the root canal therapy, contact your emergency dentist in St. Pete immediately. 

Root canal therapy is a treatment designed to save the tooth, the surrounding teeth, and bone and to restore functionality. If you are suffering from deep tooth decay or had an injury to the teeth and are looking for a dentist for treatment, we’ve got your back. Contact 4th Street Family Dentistry for a consultation today.

Signs It’s Time to Visit the Dentist

Signs it's time to visit the dentist - 4th Street Family Dentistry

Signs it’s Time to Visit the Dentist in St. Petersburg

Has it been awhile since you went to visit the dentist for a dental examination? We get it, life can be busy. If you don’t experience any tooth pain, it’s all too easy to skip those regular appointments. Perhaps you have a fear of the dentist? 

Did you know that those dental examinations and professional cleanings can actually help to prevent the majority of dental issues? If you’ve neglected or avoided going to the dentist, consider these signs, it’s time to visit the dentist.

Pain, In Teeth or Gums

A toothache can range in severity from mild to excruciating. Whether the tooth pain comes and goes or is constant, this is usually a sign of a tooth infection. Pain should be indicative of needing to see Dr. Leeson, an emergency dentist in St. Petersburg.

The inflammation and discomfort that you’re feeling are likely due to a cavity and other serious decay. These issues will not usually resolve on their own. Don’t delay coming in to see your St. Petersburg dentist until the pain is unbearable. A small cavity can be treated with a dental filling, but more advanced decay could need a root canal or dental crown.

Pain in the Jaw, Signs of Bruxism

Do you grind your teeth while you’re sleeping? This condition, known as bruxism, is quite common. Many of us don’t know that we grind our teeth in our sleep until someone points it out to us. It can lead to pain in the jaw, cavities, and even cracks on your teeth. It is also, of course, possible that the pain in your jaw is being triggered by a cavity and an abscess in the tooth.

Gum Irritation and Bleeding

Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth? It is possible that you are too aggressive when you brush. But it could also be indicative of an issue with your gums. Gum disease, in all of its stages, is thought to have an impact on more than half of the adults living in the United States. If you have swelling, redness, and signs of developing a tooth abscess, along with loose teeth, you may have periodontitis. During your visit to the best dentist in St. Petersburg, FL, we can address the gum disease and offer a dental treatment plan that will improve your oral health.

Constant Dry Mouth

Does it feel like your mouth is always dry? Ruling out any other potentially serious medical concerns, such as diabetes, it could be that you’re struggling with dry mouth. Without enough saliva in the mouth, there is an increased risk of decay. This is because the saliva in our mouths helps to neutralize acids, and naturally rinse away food debris and bacteria. It also aids in digestion. A visit to your St. Petersburg dentist can help to identify the source of your dry mouth. Dr. Lesson can also recommend solutions while identifying any cavities or other damage that will require tooth repair.

Struggles with Bad Breath

It’s normal to experience a bit of unfriendly breath after your morning cup of coffee, or perhaps a garlic-dense meal. However, if brushing and flossing don’t seem to do anything to resolve your bad breath struggles, it could be that you have something else that needs to be addressed.

Dr. Chris Green, a dentist in Parker, CO, says that bad breath could be as the result of a cavity, gum disease, or other serious medical conditions. The fastest way to resolve it is with a visit to your dentist, to rule out and address the potential issues.

Preventative visits and routine cleanings can keep your teeth healthier between visits, and help to keep pain at bay. If you have any questions about your oral health or our dental services in St. Petersburg, contact 4th Street Family Dentistry today! We’re happy to answer any questions or concerns. 

Causes of Tooth Pain

common causes of tooth pain - 4th Street Family Dentistry

Common Causes of Tooth Pain

If you have ever felt the misery of tooth pain, you know how rotten it can make you feel. When it comes to toothaches, our St. Petersburg patients know that they can rely on us to relieve their tooth pain. The first step to getting you out of pain is finding out what the cause of your tooth pain is. Do you know what some of the most common causes of tooth pain are? Read below to learn more.

Decay of One or More Teeth 

Cavities are perhaps the most common cause of tooth pain. Tooth decay happens as a result of the bacteria in the mouth eroding the tooth enamel. If the decay is not addressed in its early stages, it can eventually expose the nerves inside of the tooth.

Tooth decay is quite preventable, with good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and using quality mouthwash can help to keep the bacteria in your mouth under control. If you do have tooth decay, you’ll appreciate how Dr. Leeson, the best dentist in St. Petersburg FL, treats the decay and restores your smile.

Periodontal, or Gum, Disease

Gum disease is a common concern faced by men and women of all ages. It becomes a reality when the bacteria in the mouth forms tartar on the teeth, at or below the gum line. The bacteria can lead to pockets of inflammation that can quickly cause a tooth abscess. Most patients have no idea they have gum disease. That’s why our friends at Digi-Doc recommend that all dental offices have intraoral cameras or high-quality dental x-ray systems. If you are experiencing pain from gum disease, then it is time for you to schedule your deep dental cleaning. A professional dental cleaning at 4th Street Family Dentistry will help to clean and clear up the infection and inflammation.

A Direct Tooth Injury

When you experience a tooth injury, the tooth can become chipped, cracked or completely broken. Even if you don’t immediately feel pain in that tooth, you should consider it an emergency. Only a professional will know the extent of the damage. So, if you have a broken or chipped tooth, contact the best emergency dentist St Petersburg, Dr. Leeson. X-rays and an examination can be done and the tooth will be repaired if needed. Failing to address a broken tooth can lead to decay, resulting in the need for root canal therapy. It can also ultimately lead to tooth loss.

Impacted Teeth

Teeth that never fully erupted can become infected. This is quite commonly seen with wisdom teeth, which is why during a visit to our dental office in St Petersburg, FL, the dentist may recommend extracting the wisdom teeth sooner than later. The impacted tooth may simply exist for years, without causing any issues at all. Or it may become infected, and start to cause you significant pain. It’s often not worth taking the time to address the infection in wisdom teeth, but the recommended plan of treatment is to extract the impacted tooth/teeth.

Referred Pain From Sinusitis

If you have a sinus infection or sinusitis, you may have a fungal, viral, or bacterial infection that is causing inflammation and pain. The roots of the teeth on your upper jaw are close in proximity to your sinuses. This can lead to referred pain in your upper teeth. If x-rays and an examination don’t reveal a cause for your toothache, you may be referred to your primary care physician for further testing. It could just be that you need a round of antibiotics and steroids to resolve your sinusitis.

Resolving Tooth Pain

The best way to resolve the pain that you are feeling is to visit your St. Petersburg dentist. If x-rays and an examination of your mouth determine that decay is responsible for the pain, the answer may be a filling, root canal, or potentially a tooth extraction.

If, on the other hand, gum disease is responsible for the toothache, it may be that a root planing and scaling are necessary. You may also need antibiotics to control the bacteria in your mouth.

If the tooth is broken, chipped, or cracked, a filling may not be sufficient to restore stability and functionality to the tooth. A dental crown may be the better option to stabilize and protect the remaining natural tooth. 

Preventing Tooth Pain

While there are some very effective ways of treating tooth pain, the best cure is truly prevention, says Dr. O’Grady, an emergency dentist in Denver Highlands. Some types of toothache can’t necessarily be prevented, but gum disease and decay can be prevented simply by practicing good oral hygiene routines at home. Visiting our office for a dental cleaning and routine examination every six months can also help to prevent dental problems. 

Don’t ignore tooth pain. If you’re wondering, “Can a dentist near me help with my toothache?” You’ll be happy to learn that we offer comprehensive dental solutions to get you out of pain and get you smiling once again.