Root Canals

What is a root canal?

Root canals (also known as endodontic treatments) are dental procedures that are designed to remove bacteria from an infected root canal. There are two types of root canals: A root canal on the molar tooth and a root canal on the front tooth. A front tooth will typically just have one long canal, however, molar teeth have more than one root and several nerves that need to be treated. Cleaning of these multi-rooted molar teeth can be more difficult and requires more time, skill, and equipment. At Collingwood Dentistry, we employ the latest in Laser technology by using minimally invasive treatments and decontaminating the infected tooth. The use of the laser debrides and sterilizes the inside of the tooth and greatly decreases the possibility of future re-infection or failure of root canals. If you are experiencing tooth pain, sensitivity, or swelling, it is important to act quickly, not only to relieve your pain but also to save the tooth from a possible extraction.

What are the advantages of having a PIPS™ root canal done?

• PIPS™ effectively debride and disinfects root canals by streaming irrigants three-dimensionally in the canals, making it easier to negotiate the critical apical one-third of the root canal system.
• The entire root canal and the sub-canal system are more effectively cleaned and debrided than with traditional instrument-only techniques, reducing the risk of re-infection.
• The minimally invasive nature of PIPS™ preserves more tooth endoskeleton than traditional instrument techniques since filing can be limited to as small as ISO #20 file, thus maintaining more tooth strength.
• The sub-ablative power levels eliminate the risks of thermal damage, ledging, and demineralization inherent to other laser endodontic methods.
• Since PIPS™ tips are never directly inserted into the canals, there is no risk of tip breakage or broken files from curved or narrow canals.
• There is no unwanted apical extrusion of chemical irritants that are associated with other methods.
• Less filing time and less soaking time for chemical agents save time in the chair.

Is it worth going through so much trouble just to save a tooth, instead of extracting it?

Teeth, in general, have a specific function within the mouth, and therefore many teeth are specifically worth saving if root canal treatment is possible. An extraction (removal) of a tooth may be an inexpensive and quick option yet often is not in the best interest of the patients’ long-term dental health. Extractions can lead to other teeth moving into the now void space, food traps, and future expensive restorations such as bridges or implants.

Will a root canal-treated tooth be just as strong as my other teeth? Can it decay just as my other teeth can?

If a root canal has been well restored, either by a filling or a crown, then it should be as strong as your other teeth. Just like other teeth, a tooth that has had a root canal is subject to decay and the environment within your mouth. It is important to follow up on your regular dental checkups to see if the root canal and the seal placed over the root canal maintain a proper seal.

Please browse our services, call us if you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment.