Rotary Endodontics

Rotary Endodontics, or root canal, is a method in which the doctor utilizes an electric handpiece to perform the procedure. The electric handpiece allows the doctor to clean and shape the canals faster than using hand files. This makes the whole treatment experience much more pleasant.

before treatment

after treatment

six months after

What is Endodontics?

Endodontics is the specialty field in dentistry dedicated solely to root canal treatments and related microsurgical procedures. Literally, endo means “inside” and dontics means “tooth.” Endodontists, the practitioners of endodontics, are dentists who have pursued additional training, two or more years, in order to specialize in this field.

What is a Root Canal?

All teeth have a hollow space inside them where nerves and blood vessels reside. When teeth experience decay, cracks, a history of many fillings, trauma, or other sources of stress, bacteria have an opportunity to enter the hollow space of the tooth. Once bacteria or irritants gain entrance to this space, the body cannot get enough blood into the tooth to resolve this condition, and the nerve may begin to degenerate. The tooth becomes painful when this happens. Eventually, bacteria will leak out the tip of the root of the tooth, and an abscess may develop, causing swelling and pain. Root canal therapy is designed to resolve or prevent this situation. The only other treatment alternative to a root canal is extraction of the tooth.

The basic premise of root canal treatment has two parts. First, clean out the hollow space inside the tooth in an attempt to get rid of the invading bacteria, irritants, and damaged nerve. Second, to seal off the cleansed hollow space, in an effort to prevent the return of bacteria or irritants into the area. Usually, both steps may be done during a single appointment; however, more than one appointment may be necessary in certain cases. In order to achieve both these steps, an access hole must be made in the tooth. A temporary filling is placed in the access opening after treatment. After root canal therapy is completed, it is essential that you return to your general dentist for final restoration. A crown is usually the preferred restoration on molars and premolars.

More than 90% of endodontic cases respond to root canal treatment. For cases that do not respond, it does not necessarily mean the tooth is lost. In some unresponsive cases, endodontic surgery or retreatment of the root canal can resolve the problem and allow you to keep your tooth. These procedures are successful and predictable and modern endodontics can now achieve results that were unavailable a decade ago.