Dr. Steven G. Berwitz is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitor have about Root Canals.
Q. Can root canal infection always be treated successfully?
A. I think before we answer this question we must define what a root canal is and why a patient might need one. Many people think that root canals are when the roots of the tooth are removed. This is false. A root canal is a common dental procedure that is performed when the nerve of the tooth has become infected with bacteria. Basically, the dentist makes a hole in the tooth to access the pulp chamber where he will clean and reshape the canal of the tooth that contains the nerve and blood vessels. The reason for this is to clean the canal and get rid of the bugs (bacteria) that have invaded this area of the tooth. Imagine that all your blood and organs were removed from your body, but your skin and skeleton remained, with a root canal the roots are not removed from the tooth. The blood vessels and nerve inside the tooth are removed and the canal is sealed. If performed properly, root canals can 90-95% successful over a long period of time. However, like any procedure there is always a risk of failure. We must realize that the preservation of a tooth is our top priority, so if we can gain 10-20 years with a root canal, that is always better than extracting a tooth.
Q. Should some people get a second opinion before having a root canal?
A. I will first say that is a patient is ever uncomfortable with the treatment options or the dentist then yes a second opinion is justified. The main goal in my office is to explain and show the patient why we are doing what we are doing. Some patients want to know everything and some do not want anything, but some explanation to why we do what we do is necessary.
Q. Can a cavity become a root canal situation?
A. The answer is YES. Once a cavity passes through the enamel of the tooth (the outer layer) and enters the dentin it tends to become bigger faster because the dentin material is softer then enamel. As the cavity makes its way down and becomes close to the nerve, the tooth begins to send of signals such as hot and cold sensitivity and tenderness when chewing. At this point a root canal maybe needed. Eventually the nerve will die off and the pain will go away, however, the bugs (bacteria) are still present and a root canal is necessary. It is important to state that a cavity is not the only reason one may need a root canal. Trauma to a tooth, infections of the root, unexplained nerve death in a tooth are all valid reasons to why a root canal may be needed.
Q. What is an abscess?
A. Dentally speaking, an abscess can appear is a facial swelling, a swelling on the gum near a tooth or there can be an area around the root of the tooth seen on a dental radiograph that is an apica abscess. However, in simply put, an abscess is an area of bacteria that forms as the body tries to fight infection.
Q. How can we contact Dr. Berwitz if we have further questions?
A. You can contact us at (912) 355-5004 or for details visit our website www.stevenberwitzdmd.com. If you have further questions I can be reached via email at sberwitz@stevenberwitzdmd.com
