Dentistry is the known evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the soft and hard tissues of the jaw (mandible), the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent.
An Interview with Dr. Ryan Springer on Root Canal
Dr. Ryan Springer is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Root Canal.
Q. What is root canal treatment?
A. Root canal therapy is used to treat a tooth that is dead or is dying, or may be necessary for other aspects of dental treatment such as if a tooth needs a post to restore missing tooth structure. A tooth can become irritated, inflamed, and infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on a tooth, and/or large fillings, a crack or chip in the tooth, or trauma to the face.
Q. What does treatment involve?
A. Treatment involves using small files to clean out the pulp of the tooth in each individual tooth root. The pulp of the tooth is what contains the nerve and blood supply of the tooth. After the roots are thoroughly cleaned and shaped, each root is filled with a material to prevent further infection from developing.
Q. What are the signs of needing endodontic treatment?
A. Discoloration of a tooth, swelling in the gums, appearance of a small "pimple" on the gums, pain when chewing, pain that wakes you up at night, sensitivity to cold or hot substances, especially when the sensitivity to cold or hot does not subside for a few minutes or even hours after being exposed to the hot or cold substance.
Q. Are pain pills and antibiotics an acceptable substitute for root canal?
A. No. Pain medication and antibiotics may relieve your pain in the short term, however if the cause of the problem is not addressed the infection will come back.
Q. Are there alternative treatments for root canal?
A. Yes, your treatment options can be discussed with your dentist. Alternative treatments will depend on many factors including the condition of the tooth and the condition of the rest of your teeth.
Q. How much will the procedure cost?
A. $350-900 depending on which tooth needs a root canal.
Q. Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment?
A. Most teeth, especially in the back of the mouth, will need a crown after root canal therapy is performed. This is because the tooth will become very brittle after root canal therapy and we want to protect it from further fracture. Many times the teeth in the front of your mouth will not require crowns after treatment depending on how much tooth structure has been destroyed due to cavities or fracture. Each tooth will need a definitive restoration in order to prevent leakage of bacteria back into the tooth.
Q. How to contact Dr. Springer if we have further questions?
