Root Canal Endodontists in Washington DC
If you have a problem with one or more of your teeth, here are some common signs you need a root canal severe pain, a chipped or cracked tooth, lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, and swollen or tender gums. Our endodontists at Ideal Endodontics can help relieve your pain. We are conveniently located at 1145 19th Street NW, Suite 314, Washington, DC 20036. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online.
Table of Contents:
Should I go to an endodontist for a root canal?
Is it better to do a root canal or an extraction?
How long do teeth last after a root canal?
Do I need a crown after a root canal?
A root canal is an endodontic procedure, meaning it involves the insides of the teeth and is often used to save a tooth that is badly decayed, damaged, or infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. A root canal procedure is performed when the nerve of the tooth becomes infected or the pulp becomes damaged. The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia, which numbs the area around the tooth. As it is an advanced procedure, it should only be performed by an experienced dental professional, such as an endodontist.
If you need a root canal, you may be wondering whether you should visit a dentist or an endodontist. While general dentists can perform root canals, endodontists specialize in this procedure and have much more experience with it. Therefore, in complex situations, such as when multiple roots or teeth are involved, it is recommended to visit an endodontist, as most dentists will refer their patients to an endodontic clinic in these cases anyway. Because endodontists specialize in performing root canal therapy, root canals performed by endodontists have a much higher success rate than those performed by dentists.
In most cases, it is recommended to save a tooth with a root canal, rather than get it removed via an extraction. This is a big decision and may come down to factors like cost, but in the vast majority of cases, dentists and endodontists will do everything they can to save their patients’ teeth. In severe cases, such as teeth that have huge cavities rotting away much of the tooth and can cause complications to other teeth, these teeth are typically removed in order to preserve the greatest number of teeth. Furthermore, if a tooth is severely damaged, having it extracted may be the safest treatment.
A well-performed root canal procedure can last a lifetime without causing any further problems to the patient, but it is impossible to determine how long a root canal will last. There are, however, several factors that can affect its longevity, including dental hygiene and personal oral care practices; diet; frequency of dental checkups; lifestyle (such as teeth grinding, jaw clenching, nail-biting, etc.); future dental procedures; and facial trauma/damage to the teeth.
According to a number of different studies, between 88 and 95 percent of patients experienced a 10-year lifespan, but many patients benefited from much longer-lasting results.
You may need a crown after a root canal, depending on the location of the tooth. The back teeth, known as the molars, are essential in chewing and breaking down foods, so a crown may be recommended if a root canal was performed on one of these teeth. Sometimes a crown is unnecessary, and people can experience lasting results without one. However, dental crowns still provide a number of benefits, including the following:
• Reinforces a fragile and vulnerable tooth
• Improves the appearance of teeth
• Molars with a crown last longer after a root canal
• Helps diminish sensitivity in partial root canals
• Adds security by reinforcing teeth against the stress of chewing, grinding, and jaw clenching
Come to Ideal Endodontics for your next root canal, where you can trust the experience and specialization of our root canal endodontists to provide you with the highest quality results. Contact us today or book an appointment with our root canal endodontists, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 1145 19th Street NW, Suite 314, Washington, DC 20036. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Washington DC, Arlington VA, Bethesda MD, Alexandria VA, and Silver Spring MD.
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