Saving Infected Teeth with Root Canal Therapy in Fort Worth

Anterior root canals are performed on your anterior, or front, teeth. They are considered to be more difficult and complex than posterior (rear or molar) root canals. This is because the front teeth are smaller, and do not have a large chewing surface.
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In the standard posterior root canal procedure, an opening can be created on the top, or crown, of a molar or premolar. This is not possible with an anterior tooth, so an opening must be created in the lingual surface of the tooth — the side that faces the tongue. In addition, it can be more difficult to restore anterior teeth with a crown or a filling, since the surface of the tooth is much smaller.

Posterior root canals are a more common treatment. The posterior teeth (molars and premolars) become infected more commonly than the front teeth because they have deeper pits, grooves, and fissures that can harbor cavity-causing bacteria and plaque.
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In a posterior root canal, an opening is made in the top chewing surface of the tooth, which provides easy access to the interior pulp and root canals. Once the procedure is complete, the tooth is restored with either a filling or a crown, depending on which will best support the remaining tooth structure.

Root canal therapy is usually very effective and can preserve the natural structure of your tooth. However, sometimes a tooth that has received root canal treatment may not heal properly or new complications may arise. This can occur due to complicated canal anatomy within your tooth, making it difficult for a general dentist to remove all the infected pulp. An improperly fitted crown can also cause reinfection by letting bacteria back into the treated tooth. In these cases, root canal retreatment may be necessary to save the tooth and avoid extraction.

During a root canal retreatment, your dentist will open up the treated tooth and remove the existing canal filling. Using special magnification and illumination tools, your doctor will take a look at your tooth’s anatomy to identify any additional canals or unique structures that may require retreatment. Once the canals are clean and a new canal filling is in place, a temporary crown will be placed to protect your tooth until your permanent crown is ready to be attached. Once you receive your new dental crown, your retreated tooth will be healthy and strong once again.

Pulpotomies are often called “baby root canals,” because this pediatric treatment is used to treat infected baby teeth. The process is quite similar to that of a root canal in an adult tooth.
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Your child’s dentist will begin by cleaning and numbing your child’s mouth, removing decayed enamel, and creating an opening in your child’s tooth to access the infected pulp. Once the infection is cleared from the roots, the interior of the tooth is cleaned and sanitized.
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After the area is disinfected, a special healing dressing will be applied to the remaining pulp. This dressing will encourage the pulp to heal, which will keep the baby tooth alive and healthy until it falls out as part of your child’s natural oral development.