Dr. Erin McKenzie Endodontist Calgary Alberta
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Services
Root Canal Treatment
At the center of a tooth is the pulp. The pulp is a collection of nerves and blood vessels that provide sensation and nutrients to the tooth. When bacteria, decay, trauma or cracks reach the pulp of the tooth, this can result in an infection. This can be very painful, cause swelling and in rare instances may develop into a life threatening infection.
A root canal is a non-surgical treatment to remove the decay and infected pulp from the centor of the tooth and roots. Treatment is completed under local anesthesia, usually in 1 or 2 appointments. After completion of the root canal, you will be referred back to your general dentist to get a crown placed on your tooth to prevent further infection.
Apicoectomy
Occasionally, a root canal is not sufficient enough to remove all of the infection from the tissues surrounding the tooth. Under local anesthesia, a small incision is made in the gums, and the area of infection is cleaned around the tip of the root. The end of the root is cleaned out and a small filling is placed.
The bone naturally heals around the root after a couple of months. To alleviate any discomfort after the procedure, appropriate pain medication is provided.
Root Canal
Retreatment
Sedation
In some cases, a root canal may need to be retreated. It is possible that the original infection may fail to heal or in other cases a new infection may develop, even after several years.
Several causes for this may include: undetected or untreated canals during initial treatment, a crown or restoration was not placed within the appropriate time following the procedure, or decay developed underneath the crown or restoration. Decay or cracks can expose the canals of the tooth to bacteria leading to the development of a new infection.
Root canal retreatment is very similar to initial root canal therapy. Dr. McKenzie will removed the filling material from the initial root canal, clean out your tooth thoroughly, and place new filling material inside the roots of the tooth.
Getting dental work can often times be very stressful. Sedation dentistry utilizes pharmacological agents to calm and relax the patient. Sometimes as easy as taking a pill, you can be sedated and completely relaxed for your appointment.
Root Fracture Diagnosis
Internal Bleaching
Cracked teeth can demonstrate many different symptoms. Pain when biting, temperature sensitivity, and pain upon release of biting are all signs of a possible cracked tooth. Often times the pain will come and go making diagnosis difficult. If the crack leads to the nerve or pulp of the tooth, sometimes a root canal is indicated. In severe fractures, extraction may be necessary.
Dr. McKenzie uses the latest technology, utilizing digital radiography and 3-dimensional cone beam technology to diagnose and treat cracked or fractured teeth.
Internal bleaching is the process of whitening a tooth that has had a root canal. Since the source of discoloration is internal to the tooth, traditional whitening will usually not lighten the shade of the tooth. Internal bleaching is performed by Dr. McKenzie in the office to bring your tooth back to its natural shade. Please contact our office if you have any questions about this procedure.