Endodontics – Root Canal & Retreatment

Think you may benefit from a root canal in Houston, TX? Endodontics is a special field of dentistry that deals with the study and treatment of the dental pulp and the tissues surrounding the roots of the teeth. Worried you may need a root canal? Contact our endodontist in Houston, TX today!

Root Canal Treatment in Houston, TX

A root canal is probably the most well-known procedure in endodontics and is the term used to describe the natural cavity within the center of the tooth, where the tooth’s nerve lies.

When a tooth is badly decayed or infected, it usually is related to the nerves of the tooth, so it’s important to remove the decay before it can develop into an abscess. To do this, your Houston endodontist (root canal specialist) will need to drill into the tooth to create an opening into the canal. This is done after a local anesthetic has been applied to numb the area around the affected tooth. Once inside the canal, the infected tissue is removed, and the canal is cleaned. The remaining space is then filled with a sealant, and the tooth is closed with a temporary filling. The treatment is completed later on by placing a permanent crown or a similar implement on the tooth. Think one of your teeth may need a root canal in Houston? Contact our endodontist in Houston right away.

Houston Root Canal Retreatment

With proper care, root canals usually have a 95% success rate. But if after a consultation with your Houston dentist it’s decided that retreatment is necessary, the procedure will happen in a similar way to the original. This time, it may be necessary to remove complex restorative materials (e.g., a crown) before the canal can be accessed. Your endodontist will again clean the canals and then carefully examine the inside of the tooth with a microscope to search for any previously undetected areas that require treatment. Once the root canal has been cleaned, it will again be filled with a sealant and closed off with a temporary filling, to be replaced by a crown or other restoration at a later appointment.

Searching for a root canal in Houston? Root canals often bring about a certain level of anxiety, but with advances in dental technology and local anesthetics, the procedure is not as intimidating as it’s thought to be and can actually improve dental health! To see if a root canal treatment is the best treatment for your case, book a consultation with our endodontist in Houston, TX today!