Why Do Some Root Canal Treatments Fail?
And Why It Isn’t Your Dentist’s Fault
And Why It Isn’t Your Dentist’s Fault
Root canals aren’t usually people’s favourite procedures. If you have to have one, it means that you’ve probably been in pain or discomfort for a while and have made a trip to an after hours dentist. After all that trouble, you probably think that the root canal should solve everything. But sometimes, your problems will continue after the root canal, meaning that you have to get further treatments. If this happens to you, then you need to know why it happens and why it isn’t always your dentist’s fault.
Why Do You Need a Root Canal?
In basic terms, people need a root canal when the pulp or inside of their tooth has become infected. During a root canal, the nerve and pulp inside your tooth are cleared out and the area is sealed so that bacteria can’t get in there again. To complete the procedure, your dentist will usually put a crown over the top of the tooth to increase its strength and repair its appearance. This procedure usually alleviates any pain immediately because the nerve, the part of your tooth that registers pain, is gone. And once the area has healed, you will be able to go back to your normal eating routine and probably won’t even notice that you ever had the procedure done.
If you have an infected tooth, your dentist will usually try to treat the infection with antibiotics first. However, if the infection has gone too far, if it threatens the health of surrounding tissue, it’s usually better to perform a root canal. Otherwise it can cause problems such as abscesses or pain and infection in other parts of the face and even in the rest of the body.
Some causes of tooth pulp infection include:
A cavity that has been left too long.
A crack or chip that hasn’t been repaired and has let bacteria into the centre of the tooth.
Repeated procedures on a tooth.
Gum infections that have been left untreated and infected a tooth.
Face traumas.
What if the Root Canal Doesn’t Work?
Most people who get a root canal go back to their normal lives without any further problems. In fact, between 90 and 95 percent of root canals are completely successful. However, there are a small percentage of people who aren’t so lucky.
There can be a number of reasons why a root canal may fail. And the first and most common is related to the original infection. As Doctor Oberoi from Emergency Dentist Sydney says about root canals, “If they haven’t been done properly in the first place and the infection is still there they can fail.” That’s why you need to make sure that your root canal is done by a properly qualified and experienced after hours dentist.
Another reason why a root canal may fail has to do with the condition of the tooth itself. Doctor Oberoi points out, “…if there’s a crack in the tooth then it can affect the root canal. That’s why we usually recommend putting a crown over the tooth.”
A root canal may also fail if it isn’t taken care of after the procedure. You need to make sure that you follow your dentist’s instructions closely when it comes to after care. Otherwise the gum or surrounding teeth could become infected, resulting in more dental work.
Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:
If you need a root canal or any other emergency procedure, contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available 24 hours a day to help you with all your emergency dental needs.
Laser Root Canal Treatment
Why It's the Best Option for Your Oral Health
Why It's the Best Option for Your Oral Health
The root canal is a very old dental treatment and it’s something that most people try to avoid. In the old days, this treatment was frightening and painful and people only agreed to it when there was absolutely no other option. But this has all changed with the invention of laser dentistry. Keep reading to learn all about the benefits of laser root canal treatments and how it can make visits to your after hours dentist much easier.
What is Laser Dentistry?
Laser dentistry uses focused beams of light to clear away and reshape tissue in the mouth and this can be used in a range of dental procedures including root canals. During a root canal, your dentist will use the laser to open a hole in your tooth and clear out the diseased tissue. The laser can also be used to shape and prepare the canal so it can be filled. This new root canal procedure has a number of benefits over the old one, where dentists used a drill to open the tooth. So if you have a toothache late at night and worry about going to your after hours dentist for a root canal, make sure you talk to them about laser procedures.
The Benefits of Laser Root Canal Treatment
When dentists started adopting the use of lasers in their procedures, it was a great step forward for dentistry as a whole. Here are some of the benefits of using a laser during root canal treatments specifically, though many of them apply to other procedures as well:
Faster procedures
During old root canal procedures, a drill was used to cut through the tooth and then the dentist manually removed the damaged tissue within the tooth. This was usually a very slow process. But performing these tasks using a laser is much faster, with the whole procedure usually taking less than 30 minutes from start to end.
Less bleeding and damage
Lasers are much more precise than drills, which means there are less damage and bleeding. So after you have a laser root canal, your recovery time will usually be much shorter than with the older procedure.
Fewer infections
Because lasers are so precise, they ensure that all the diseased tissue is removed from within the tooth. This cuts down on the rate of infection after the procedure, which ensures a better outcome.
Healthy tissue is better protected
One of the problems with the old root canal surgery was the fact that healthy tissue around the affected tooth was sometimes damaged by the drill or by other instruments. But because the laser is so precise, this is much less likely to happen during the new procedure.
The drill isn’t always necessary
One of the worst things about root canals is the sound of the drill as it opens up your tooth. But because of the laser, most dentists don’t use a drill at all during a root canal these days. And if it is still necessary, it will be for a much shorter time.
Better outcomes
All the benefits of laser root canals add up to one thing, better outcomes. If a root canal doesn’t work, it usually means that the tooth has to be extracted. But because this procedure is so effective, this is much less common these days as long as the new procedure is used.
Pain-free procedures
Your dentist will completely numb the tooth and the surrounding area during the laser root canal, so there shouldn’t be any pain during the procedure. However, most patients report that they experience much less pain after a laser root canal than with the old version of the procedure. And that’s probably the best benefit of this new way of doing the procedure.
So the next time you need to have a root canal, talk to your dentist about whether a laser procedure is right for you.
Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:
And if you have a toothache after office hours, make sure you contact our Emergency Dentist in Sydney. Our caring and expert staff are available now to take care of all your emergency dental needs.
Traditional Vs. Laser Root Canal Treatment
Why It's Better to Go High Tech
Why It's Better to Go High Tech
You may have heard of laser root canals and you may be a little scared but fear not, there is nothing strange or scary about laser treatments at all. In fact, using lasers in dentistry make treatments faster, more effective and a lot less uncomfortable. Have a read below for the advantages a laser root canal can offer over a traditional root canal procedure.
Why Would I need a Root Canal Anyway?
There are several reasons that your dentist might suggest a root canal. A tooth that has deep decay, has cracks or chips that have resulted in damage to the pulp of the tooth itself, or it may have suffered as a result of repeated dental procedures but is not totally beyond repair. The idea behind root canal treatment is to alleviate the pain associated with pulp damage and give the tooth a chance to heal before it is restored with a filling or a crown at a later date.
Laser Vs. Traditional
A traditional root canal makes use of a drill to create a tiny opening in the tooth to be treated. The inflamed/damaged pulp is then removed and the root within the tooth is cleansed and disinfected before the little hole is filled back up again with a rubber like solution.
A laser root canal follows basically the same procedure, but making use of a laser, instead of a drill, really does make a difference. The laser can 'boil away' the damaged tissue with far greater accuracy and the tooth is left considerably cleaner. There is also often less bleeding involved - a plus for anyone because no one really likes to see blood, especially if it's their own - and some patients who have had a root canal in the past they can compare the laser procedure to have reported that the pain and discomfort they experienced immediately after their dental surgery was noticeably less.
But are Lasers Really Safe?
Some people are a little afraid that an oral surgeon could slip up and the dental laser will cut their tooth. Lasers can indeed cut, but any dentist performing a laser root canal has been extensively trained in the procedure and is as skilled with their laser as they are with their drill.
Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:
We are happy to explain everything at great length and together make a decision on which treatment is best for you. Whether you prefer a laser or traditional root canal, we will provide you with the best possible experience.
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Lasers in Dentistry Explained
It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie right?
A Must Have for Dental Practices
Lasers in dentistry. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie right? If dentists weren't scary enough, now they're wielding lasers like some kind of dental Darth Vader? What do they do with them? Is it safe?
Whenever people first hear about the use of lasers in modern dentistry these questions often come to their minds. However, there is nothing strange, or scary, about the practice at all, and in fact, lasers are helping to make dental treatment faster, more effective and, in many cases, a lot less uncomfortable.
Uses for Dental Lasers
Dental lasers are actually not really new, they've been around since the mid-nineties, but it's only more recently that they are being more widely used. And they are being used in a number of different ways. Lasers can be used more efficiently remove decay from a tooth and then prepare it to receive a filling. They can also be utilised to help fight infection and reduce inflammation, especially when a patient is suffering from painful gum disease.
And then there is that most feared of dental procedures; the root canal. If you've never had one, you have quite probably heard that this is a dental procedure from hell. In the right hands, that is nowhere near the truth, as the modern root canal is a far more efficient dental surgery than it might have been back in your parents or grandparents day.
However, lasers are helping to make the root canal even more effective. A laser root canal often means the procedure is shorter, there is less initial pain and bleeding, the recovery and healing time is faster, and being approached with what essentially looks like a simple beam of light is a lot less scary than a sharp metal instrument.
How Do Dental Lasers Work?
Now that we've established that lasers are very useful tools for a skilled dentist to have, you are probably wondering just how they work.
Like all lasers, dental lasers work by delivering energy in the form of a beam of light. When used in dentistry the laser can be used as a cutting tool, or to safely 'vaporise' damaged tissue. This is especially effective in a root canal, as the laser can be manipulated more easily to clean the root and remove all that nasty debris more effectively than traditional tools can.
Now, dental lasers are not replacing traditional dentistry tools and procedures completely. Instead, they are being used in conjunction with them to help offer patients a better overall experience when they visit the dentist. Not all dentists are trained to use lasers right now, there is a learning curve, but by taking the time to seek one out who is you may just be getting closer to that shorter, less painful, less intimidating experience in the dental chair we're all looking for.
The Emergency Dentist Says:
Dental lasers are just one of the innovations we make use of to provide you with the best possible experience. And no, we're still wearing our white coats, there's not a black cape or helmet in sight!
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