If root canal or other conventional treatments have not helped address your dental problems, endodontic surgery may be your next option. But of course, choosing an invasive dental procedure is not an easy decision. So if you’re still unsure whether to call your endodontist in Colorado or simply go to another general dentist in your town, there are times when you likely need endodontic surgery:
1. Diagnostic Surgery
Endodontists mainly come in when non-surgical procedures fail to yield desired results or when there is a fracture so small that the X-ray cannot detect it. If you have any tooth problems that are not visible under X-ray, surgery may be an option. With surgery, the doctor can access the root of the tooth, identify the issue, and administer the necessary treatment.
2. Tooth Sensitivity to Cold and Hot
It is normal for the mouth to experience some reaction when you drink something cold or hot. However, you have a reason to consider endodontic surgery if the reaction is too pronounced or unnatural. If any food or drink is causing the reaction, then you need to see an endodontist immediately for consultation.
3. Dental Abscess Below the Root
A dental abscess is a collection of pus that can form on the gums or teeth. It is often caused by bacterial infection. Bacteria are present in the mouth due to plaque, a sticky substance made from leftover food particles that are mixed with the saliva. Apart from visual identification, you know you might have dental abscess if you are suffering from fever, pain, and bad mouth odor. Treating dental abscess at the root bottom is a tough call for a general dentist, so it is paramount to contact an endodontist.
4. Accumulation of Calcium Deposits
When calcium deposits accumulate on and around the tooth, they can make access to canal difficult, making it difficult for your dentist to use conventional shaping and cleaning tools in non-surgical procedures. Calcification may only be remedied through surgery, and the result is thorough cleaning and sealing of the root canal.
5. Post-Root Canal Problems
The result of a root canal treatment will often stand for the rest of the patient’s life, but there are exceptions where the attention of an endodontist is necessary. If your tooth is not healing from this procedure, an endodontist can help — even if the issue has emerged years after your root canal treatment. It might be the only way to save your tooth.
Endodontic Surgery Options
Apicoectomy is a procedure whereby the endodontist incises the gum tissue surrounding the tooth to remove the infection and check the bone. They also remove the root tip. They may also fill the root canal and perform sutures or stitches to help in healing. Endodontic surgery is also possible through tooth division and intentional replantation, which endodontists often recommend for complex cases.
Latest tooth replacement technologies are superb, but nothing can replace the effectiveness of the original tooth. Visiting an endodontist to save your natural tooth is a commendable investment that will pay off in lasting dental health.
