Possible Endodontic Procedure Question

Question: The nerve of a molar tooth has died and the diagnosis of my dentist is an endodontic procedure – are there other choices?

Answer: First and foremost, you must remember that each person is a special case and that there is no right or wrong across the board. I am going to speak from personal experience in this matter. Root canals done today are different, more scientifically accurate, and possibly safer than those done over twenty years ago. You are dealing with a nearly dead or dead nerve which is causing you discomfort or pain. You must see your dentist because:

• The tooth is actually dying and with that death comes decay and bacteria.

• This unhealthy tooth can lead to other unhealthy conditions in your body (inflammation, chronic infections and many other conditions along that meridian of the body)

        YOU MUST DEAL WITH THE TOOTH

What a root canal treatment really consists of is the important information:

• Treatment of the infection – both in the surrounding tissues and in the dying tooth

• Your dentist or Endodontist will numb the area around the affected tooth, or may offer you the option of mild sedation. In some cases a rubber dental dam is placed and the tooth is then drilled to the pulp area either through the top or the back of the tooth. The actual root canals are measured after some of the pulp has been removed. This is done so that the dentist can clean the entire canal, and so that enough of the filling material will be used to completely fill the canal. The actual measuring is done with either x-rays or electronic imaging devices.

• All of the diseased pulp in the tooth is removed, and the canal is cleaned out thoroughly with an antiseptic solution. This solution will clean all of the canals within the tooth. The canals are then filled a flexible plastic material. A temporary filling is then put on top of that. A crown or permanent filling will be done after there has been no sign of infection. Crowns are most common since the root canal procedure weakens the tooth. The crown is usually placed as soon as possible, within a month or less.

Now the controversy is that with all of our fabulous science and technology –there can still be bacteria left untreated. Your dentist may say it is fine – but if you research the sites below you will see what conditions may be undetectable to all our equipment and fancy technology.  This can mean that the root canal procedure has to be repeated in time and in some cases that the tooth still cannot be saved. A good example of this would be if the tooth cracks from pressure or during any of the procedures to save it.

Many people are opting to remove the tooth and avoid the possibility of infections or other complications. If you choose this option, it is VERY important to consult with your dentist to see what you will need to do to preserve the spacing in your mouth and to make sure that your chewing is not compromised. Will you need a bridge, an implant, partial or what exactly are the options!! Do not skip this step because you must eat for the rest of your life… Educate yourself with “Holistic Dentistry” as well as Endodontic Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, and General dentistry. And above all remember that no one treatment is perfect for every person…

Sites for your review include:

http://www.mercola.com/article/dental/rootcanal/root_canals.htm

http://www.drcat.org/articles_interviews/html/rootcanal.html

http://www.whale.to/d/root.html

http://www.educate-yourself.org/cn/rootcanalcoverup02apr04.shtml

http://www.ada.org/public/topics/root_canal.asp

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/root-canal/de00010

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_canal

— Joan    © 2010  Joan Goodman

Joan Goodman, CTN, MH
1950 Eldridge Parkway, Suite #5101
Houston, TX  77077

281-493-9473 

All articles are copyrighted by Joan Goodman. They may only be reprinted with her express permission.

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