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Endodontists in Peterborough, ON

Endodontics

Put simply, endodontic care is the term for the treatments and procedures a dentist will use to save a tooth if it becomes infected or injured. Endodontics involves treating the tissues inside your teeth that surround the root. Most commonly, this includes root canal therapy. But don’t worry, getting a root canal isn’t as painful as popular culture might lead you to believe. In fact, root canals are meant to get rid of pain, not cause it!

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Endodontic Services and Treatments

01

Root Canal Therapy

The Best Chance of Saving Your Tooth

Caught early, tooth decay is easily treatable by a general dentist when they can perform a filling procedure. If the decay goes untreated, it may spread past the outer layers of the tooth and into the soft tissue that protects the nerves. Once this happens, endodontic treatment is required to have the best chance of saving the tooth. If the decay goes too far, an abscess can form at the end of the tooth root, exposing the infection and allowing it to spread to other parts of the body. In extreme cases, the only option is extraction and replacement with a prosthetic.
Endodontic Surgery
Of course, it’s always best to save the natural tooth. Prosthetics have vastly improved over the years, but they will never look, feel, or function like your natural teeth. Plus, they are often more expensive than endodontic procedures and often require multiple dental visits to complete.
Decay that has spread to a tooth’s roots may result in some noticeable symptoms. Patients who need a root canal might experience pain, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold, swelling or discolouration of the infected tooth. Other patients have no symptoms. Most dentists discover the need for endodontic treatment based on digital imaging and exams during a patient’s hygiene appointment.
While general dentists are trained in basic endodontics and can perform routine root canals, they commonly refer patients to specialists called endodontists for treatment of more complex cases.

Endodontists complete at least two additional years of training and use advanced technology and procedures to comfortably preserve your natural teeth and keep you smiling. They use this expertise and these advanced tools to perform both routine and difficult cases with greater confidence and a higher rate of success.

A successful root canal treatment involves thoroughly cleaning the infected tissue out of all of the tooth’s root canals so the decay can no longer spread. Because not all teeth are the exact same shape, when the root canal is more complex or slender, it can be more difficult to perform root canal therapy without an endodontist’s specialized training and technology.
Root canals have a negative reputation as being painful, but endodontists work hard to reverse that. They are trained in anaesthetics to make sure the patient is as comfortable as possible during their procedure. Because of this and their specialized training, they are also skilled at diagnosing pain in the mouth and face that might be difficult for other medical or dental professionals to place.
We are proud to offer endodontic care in our office. Please give us a call to talk more about what we offer and how we can help with any endodontic needs you may have.
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Endodontics in Peterborough FAQs

What is endodontics and when would I need it?
Endodontics is most associated with root canals but it includes all pulp and teeth root issues. Endodontics is necessary when there is decay in the soft tissue below the tooth with the goal of saving the tooth.
What does a root canal involve?
Root canals allow the removal of the damaged pulp tissue inside the tooth. We clean and disinfect the area, shape them and fill them with sealant to prevent reinfection.
What are common signs that I might need endodontic care?
Signs are pretty clear because you will have pain, sensitivity to hot or cold, swelling or discolouration of the infected tooth.
Are root canals painful?
Despite popular belief, root canals are designed to relieve pain and don’t cause it. We use local anesthesia and advanced technology to make patients as comfortable.
What is the difference between general dental treatment and specialized endodontics in Peterborough?
General dentists can provide fillings and treat many simpler cases of decay. Endodontists handle more complicated cases that involve tooth root infection.
Can endodontics in Peterborough help avoid tooth extraction?
Absolutely, it can help save a tooth from extraction. However, it isn’t completely guaranteed. Some root canals fail and the tooth must be extracted.
How are these types of cases diagnosed?
Diagnosis usually starts with your general dentist who find issues with an exam and X-rays. They refer you to the endodontist.
What advantages does endodontics in Peterborough offer over prosthetic replacement?
The best thing about a root canal is that it allows you to keep your natural teeth. That is better for your overall health.