Endodontics

Endodontics is a specific category of dentistry devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the pulp.  The pulp is the collection of soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels that resides within the hollow core of each tooth.  The word endodontics simply means within the tooth. 

In any treatment, our lead endodontist, Dr. Sheenu Goel, and her team will monitor you to ensure that you remain safe and comfortable throughout the procedure.

Common Endodontic Procedures

Endodontics encompasses a wide variety of dental procedures, and you may be familiar with some and unfamiliar with others.  Here is a very brief description of the three most common procedures that endodontists perform.

Root Canal – A root canal treatment involves the removal of infected, inflamed, or dead pulp tissue from the hollow core of the tooth.  After the doctor cleans the inside of the tooth, he or she fills in the hollow chamber with a sealed, biocompatible material.

Root Canal Retreatment – A retreatment is very similar to an initial root canal treatment in the actual procedure.  The difference is that instead of removing the pulp tissue, your doctor removes an existing root canal filling and any remaining pulp tissue.  This is because the tooth has already had a root canal treatment, and for some reason, it has failed.

Apicoectomy – This big word describes an endodontic procedure in which your doctor treats the diseased tooth from the end of the root instead of from the internal chamber of the tooth.  This is a surgical procedure involving access through the gums and jawbone around a tooth.  This treatment is necessary for a persistent dental infection that does not respond to traditional root canal therapy.

Endodontics is the area of dentistry focused on the study and treatment of the dental pulp. The pulp is the innermost layer of the tooth that includes the tooth’s living connective tissue and cells, and it houses the tooth nerves and blood vessels. If this area of the tooth becomes injured or diseased, it often results in serious tooth pain and sensitivity. When infection and damage in the dental pulp go untreated, they can cause the tooth to die, necessitating extraction. The goal of endodontic treatment is to restore the health of the tooth and prevent the need for tooth extraction.

The most common type of endodontic treatment is root canal therapy, which is completed by one of our Endodontists - Dr. Goel and Dr. Whipple. During the root canal therapy, our specialist and team removes the injured and infected tissues from the tooth thoroughly clean the tooth, and fills the tooth. The tooth is then capped by your general dentist with a restoration, such as a dental crown, to protect the tooth and restore its structure and appearance.

If root canal therapy is not the right treatment for you, or if infection reoccurs after the tooth has undergone a root canal, our dentist may recommend another endodontic treatment. Other endodontic treatment options include root canal retreatment, apicoectomy, pulpal debridement, and pulpotomy.

What to expect from Endodontic Treatments

Many people harbor misconceptions regarding root canal treatments and other endodontic procedures.  Most of these myths involve an assumption of severe pain.  We can assure you that we, at Empire Dental Specialty Group, provide compassionate and painless care for each patient who sees us. 

Endodontists are particularly adept at achieving profound anesthesia in the area in which they work.  You can expect to feel nothing uncomfortable at all throughout your endodontic care. 

Those who are apprehensive about endodontic procedures have the option to undergo one of our sedative treatment options, including nitrous oxide and oral sedation.  Our goal is to provide excellent care while maintaining patient comfort.

Endodontic Specialists

Explore Endodontics services in both of our Beavercreek and West Chester offices and schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified endodontists today.