Ballantyne Endodontics

“The mesial of the tooth has a cavity.” Have you ever listened to your dentist and thought they were speaking a foreign language? Sitting in the chair for a dental exam can be confusing, if you don’t know the technical terminology. Learning a little bit about dental vocabulary can help you to be more informed about your oral health, and more able to comply with your dentist’s instructions. The forward-facing part of the tooth, called the mesial, is a good place to start expanding your knowledge of tooth anatomy.

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Today, root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, will save your natural tooth and allow you to keep it functional for decades, if not a lifetime. But just as no two people are the same, teeth also vary widely, so that the success of root canal treatment depends on many factors. Before we explore some of the most important ones, let’s talk about what root canal treatment is, and why you need it.

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If you have failing or missing teeth, there are some excellent tooth-replacement options. However, it’s almost always better to save a natural tooth if at all possible. This is the focus of the dental specialty called endodontics.

An endodontist (“endo” – inside, “odont” – tooth) is a dentist who has advanced training in diagnosing and treating problems related to the soft tissue inside the tooth. These specialists perform routine as well as difficult and very complex procedures, including root canal treatment, retreatment and endodontic microsurgery.

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It’s no fun when teeth can’t handle hot or cold temperatures, but when you have a tooth sensitive to pressure, there could be more structural issues at play. Whether you’re eating, speaking or brushing your teeth, the cause of this sensitivity can be unknown – but there are ways to cope with it. Here’s how to manage your tooth pain and how your dentist or endodontist may be able to provide relief.

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According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, an antibiotic is “a substance produced by or a semisynthetic substance derived from a microorganism and able in dilute solution to inhibit or kill another microorganism.” What they don’t tell you, however, is that antibiotics not only kill the bad bacteria – they also kill the good.

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This is a great example of how the cone beam machine can help us with diagnosis. A 55-year-old male presented for an evaluation of the upper left quadrant. His chief complaint is a vague, dull ache in the area. He has some tenderness when he pushes on his cheek around these teeth.

Standard radiographs were taken as always; 2 periapical images and one bitewing image.

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When the inside of your mouth gets hurt or irritated, bacteria may enter and cause an infection. Sometimes you will see a painful swelling filled with pus (a thick, yellowish fluid). If the pus can’t drain out, the area will get more swollen and painful. This is known as an abscess. The abscess forms a barrier around the infection. This is one way that your body tries to keep a bacterial infection from spreading.

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Accidents happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth.

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When you have a dental injury or infection, saving your natural tooth should always be your first choice. Even the most advanced implants or bridges cannot truly replace your natural tooth. For this reason, if you are experiencing dental pain or discomfort you should speak with a dentist or endodontist as soon as possible to discuss your options.

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