What is an Endodontist?
An Endodontist is a dentist who has undergone extra postgraduate specialist training ( usually a minimum of 2 years ). In the UK, admission to the Endodontic Specialist List and the status of Specialist in Endodontics is given by the General Dental Council of Great Britain and N.Ireland after a rigorous assessment procedure.
Specialist training allows an Endodontist to:
- Deal with diseases of the dental pulp and supporting structures.
- Diagnose facial pain and related problems.
Your general dentist sometimes refers patients for consultation when the diagnosis is complicated or when treatment is more difficult than normal.
Aside from providing treatment, Drs.Webber and Lamb’s role is also that of educators. It is important that patients understand why they require treatment, what treatment involves and what they can do to ensure the best possible outcome. A properly informed patient has the best chance of achieving the optimal result.
What is Endodontics?
Endodontics is a specialty of Dentistry that deals with diseases of the dental pulp and its supporting structures.
Endodontic Treatment is an economical way to preserve a tooth in function especially when the cost of tooth loss and replacement is so high.
Endodontists are Dentists with special post-graduate training in this field and are also experienced at finding the cause of oral and facial pain that has been difficult to diagnose.
Although General Dentists can perform Endodontic treatment, patients are often referred to an Endodontist when the case is complicated or more difficult than usual.
ANATOMY OF A TOOTH
In order to understand what Endodontic Treatment or Root Canal Treatment is, it helps to know something about the anatomy of a tooth.
Teeth have several layers.
- The outside layer of the tooth is composed of a hard layer called Enamel.
- The Dentine layer which is protected by the Enamel layer has at its center a soft tissue known as the Pulp.
- The Pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue that are responsible for forming the surrounding Dentine and Enamel during tooth development. The Pulp receives its nourishment supply from vessels which enter the end of the root.
Although the Pulp is important during development of the tooth, it is not necessary for function of the tooth. The tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it even after the pulp is removed.
WHY WOULD I NEED ENDODONTIC TREATMENT
Endodontic Treatment or Root Canal Treatment is necessary when the Pulp becomes inflamed or infected.
The most common reasons for inflammation or infection are deep cavities (caries), repeated dental procedures, cracks or chips. Trauma can also cause inflammation and often shows up as discoloration of the tooth.
If Pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Indications for treatment include
- Prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold
- Discoloration of the tooth
- Swelling of the gum adjacent to the tooth
- Tenderness of the tooth especially to biting or adjacent gums. Sometimes there are no symptoms and the first sign of a problem maybe radiographic evidence coroborated with additional diagnostic testing by the Endodontist
HOW CAN ENDODONTICS HELP ME?
The Endodontist removes the inflammed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the canal system and then seals the prepared space. Most treatment is now performed in a single appointment ranging from 45-120 minutes (depending on the number of canals). Once treatment is completed, you will be instructed to return to your dentist for a permanent restoration. The restoration of the tooth is an important part of treatment because it seals the cleaned and filled canals from the oral environment, protects the tooth and restores it to function.
In addition to conventional endodontic treatment your dentist may have referred you for Endodontic Retreatment, Endodontic Surgery or a Cracked Tooth Injury
Please follow the links above for further information on these topics.
Find out more at www.savingteeth.co.uk
How Does Endodontics Work?
We can provide industry leading pain free Endodontic treatment and also can offer sedative solutions for nervous patients. Root canal treatment with our endodontists removes inflammation and infection using state-of-the-art technology, and precise care, so that your general dentist can then restore your tooth so that you eat, drink and smile again as normal.
A tooth that has had Endodontic treatment can go on to last a lifetime, so if you’ve got any concerns about the health of your teeth, please be sure to get in touch with our friendly and professional team.
Courtesy of American Association of Endodontists.
Root Canal Treatment Process Explained Step by Step
Root Canal
Retreatment
Explained
Endondontic
Surgery
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Root canal treatment at our clinic in Central London can be performed painlessly, rapidly and efficiently and will save your tooth. We pretty much guarantee that your treatment with us will be painless. All cases are completed under local anaesthesia.
For nervous patients, we can arrange for the endodontics to be completed under sedation.
Any minor discomfort pain after root canal treatment can be treated with over-the-counter medication.
With modern anaesthetic techniques, there will be no pain. We will numb the part of the mouth which is being treated. That feeling of numbness usually subsides an hour or so after the end of your treatment.
For more about treatment:
www.savingteeth.co.uk
Although all dentists are able to carry out some simpler endodontic treatments, a further period of study, 2-3 years after graduation enables a select number of dentists to qualify as a registered endodontic specialist. It is well recognised within the profession and literature that success rates in terms of tooth survival and elimination of infection are much greater when the treatment is completed by an endodontist.
Our team of root canal specialists in Central London focuses on the identification and treatment of severe tooth pain. The types of procedures we do are usually highly complex and can include everything from emergency endodontic procedures to root end surgery or apicectomy. Thanks to our specialist team and state-of-the-art clinic, we can treat:
- Tooth decay
- Tooth abscess
- Tooth injuries
- And cracked teeth
It should be appreciated that quality root canal treatment is a much lower cost option to tooth loss and implant replacement. Why lose a tooth that otherwise would be replaced by an implant?
If you’re suffering from severe tooth pain, there’s a chance that the pulp or nerve in your tooth has become inflamed or infected. In this case, call on our root canal specialists at The Harley Street Centre for Endodontics in Central London to perform the necessary root canal procedure and avoid tooth loss.
The number one goal is always to save the natural tooth wherever possible, so coming to see us at the first sign of trouble is not only important but also helps us to treat the issue quickly and effectively.
