Good oral health is key to our overall health. When we experience infection or disease to our teeth and gums, we must have it evaluated and treated quickly or risk the disease spreading to other organs in the body.
Dentistry has evolved into a well-established field of medicine, continuously developing to treat all oral health issues imaginable. Dentistry includes various specialties and subspecialties, one of which is endodontics.
What Is an Endodontist?
Endodontics involves the diagnosis and treatment of oral health issues concerning the inside of the tooth called the pulp. The pulp is the soft, sensitive inner tissue that fills the inside of the tooth, between the dentin and the gums.
Underneath the enamel of a tooth is the dentin, and under the dentin is the pulp. This pulp is composed of nerves, blood, and lymph vessels. When the pulp becomes diseased or injured, an endodontist is a dental specialist who can treat it quickly and effectively.
Dentists who specialize in endodontics have completed an additional two to three years of training after dental school. Their specialization focuses on diagnosing tooth pain and performing root canals.
Treatments Performed by Endodontists
Endodontic procedures can be an alternative to tooth extraction. These procedures can be either surgical or nonsurgical, depending on what your endodontist recommends and what you decide.
A root canal treatment is one of the most common procedures performed by endodontists. When your tooth is severely damaged or has a deep cavity, bacteria can enter the dental pulp underneath it. If left untreated, the bacteria can manifest into a severe infection of the pulp – and this can impact the health of the rest of the tooth.
The root canal treatment involves removing the damaged pulp tissue, along with the infection caused by bacteria, from the inside of the tooth. It leaves the structure of the tooth intact, and the endodontist fills in the interior of the tooth with medical-grade prosthetic material so it functions as a healthy tooth again.
Occasionally, a root canal treatment alone is not enough to treat a patient, because the infection has spread beyond the tooth. In these cases, your endodontist may recommend endodontic surgery such as an apicoectomy. In this procedure, the endodontist makes an incision in the gum near the tooth and removes the infected tissue. Other endodontic surgeries include repairing an injured tooth, removing one or more roots, pulp capping, pulpotomy, apexification, and pulp regeneration.
Endodontist in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Infected teeth pose a severe oral health issue and must be addressed immediately. Dr. Steven Hagerman has been practicing dentistry for decades, and he can perform root canals and endodontics treatment. His other dental services include family dentistry, dental implants, dentures, Invisalign, porcelain veneers, crowns, teeth whitening, and bridges.
Start your journey to excellent oral health with us now. You may call our friendly team at (651) 646-2392 or request an appointment via our online form. We look forward to being your dental health partner!