Month: January 2022

A root canal is a treatment devised to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent further re-infection, and save the natural tooth. In other words, a root canal procedure entails removing the infected or inflamed pulp and finally cleaning and sealing the insides of the infected tooth. 

A root canal treatment does not annihilate the tooth but instead removes the nerves inside the tooth. Now that we have talked about the rudimentary aspects of a root canal let us answer whether nerves grow back after the procedure or not.

Do Nerves Grow Back After a Root Canal?
A root canal therapy removes the nerves and other organic matter from inside a tooth’s root canal system, which is then filled with a material known as gutta-percha and sealed. Thus, nerves do not come back after a root canal. 

At times, bacteria can enter the sealed system of the root canal therapy, and you might require retreatment. 

What is Root Canal Retreatment?
Although root canal procedures are incredibly safe, some therapies may fail, and the area around the treated tooth may become infected. This is when a root canal retreatment comes into the picture. 

The procedure involves numbing the tooth so that you will not feel any discomfort. After that, the dentist removes the crown and reopens the tooth. The canal filling is removed, and another infection is treated. The dentist thoroughly examines the root canals to ensure that all vulnerable areas are attended to. After everything looks good, the tooth is disinfected, and the dentist puts a filling inside the canal again. Lastly, the endodontist places a temporary cover over the root canal, replaced with a crown after a few days. 

Thus, a re-infection after root canal therapy does not occur due to the redoing of nerves. It can result from other factors associated with the root canal procedure. 

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

A root canal is a tunnel chamber that typically holds the tooth’s nerves, blood, and connective tissue. People normally refer to needing a root canal when they need root canal treatment. This treatment requires a dentist to clear out infected tooth roots and seal off the canal to prevent reoccurring infection throughout the tooth. At times, however, a root canal treatment fails and tooth infection progresses.

How does a root canal treatment fail?
Under normal situations, the long-term success rate for root canal treatment ranges between 80-90% and there is a failure percentage of 10-20%. Although success rates are high, the following are some of the most common causes of root canal treatment failure: 

• Coronal leakage
• Root perforation 
• Additional tooth roots
• Crack in the tooth

How do you know if your root canal treatment failed?
It is typical for patients who have received successful root canal treatments to experience some sensitivity in the gums close to the treated site. Patients whose treatments have failed experience pain and swelling in the affected area longer than about fourteen days, if discomfort persists it is advised to consult your dentist. An x-ray is used to determine if bacteria are still present in the tooth. 

A root canal is viewed as a failure if it ever has to be re-treated or if the tooth ultimately has to be extracted. This can happen many years down the road if the dental restoration does not hold up or under any circumstance, bacteria re-enters the tooth. Patients who keep on seeing their dentist regularly for preventive check-ups have a better chance of catching a failed root canal treatment before experiencing recurring discomfort.
Schedule your appointment with Cypress dentist today and get the treatment on time!

A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus triggered by a bacterial infection. It forms around the root of an infected tooth and can affect anyone from children to senior citizens. It is noteworthy to highlight that underneath the hard enamel of a tooth lies the soft pulp that is composed of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues. Bacterial infection can sometimes penetrate beyond the enamel and reach the pulp. Such deep-seated infection may occur due to cavities, periodontal diseases, cracked teeth, and so forth.

There are two primary types of dental abscesses, and they are:

• The periapical abscess that forms at the top of a tooth’s root
• A periodontal abscess that influences the bone next to the tooth

Now that we have deliberated on the basics of a dental abscess let us dovetail into its typical time span.

Time Span of an Untreated Abscess 
Before attempting to answer how long an untreated abscess lasts, we must try to navigate through the viability of keeping the abscess untreated in the first place. To begin with, a tooth abscess does not go or die down on its own, and professional intervention is crucial to treat a dental abscess. In case a person does not treat a dental abscess in its initial stage, then the infection may last anywhere between 5 months to 12 months or even more. Moreover, if no treatment is meted out to the condition, the precious dental pulp will die away and may get another abscess. Likewise, an abscess may travel through the bone and appear in several spots. 

In conclusion, the maximum period that an untreated tooth abscess can sustain is 12 months or more. But, such longevity is associated with dangerous complications such as sepsis or even death. 
Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

Cases of tooth loss are prevalent today as it tends to become more common after middle age. Moreover, by the age of 50, an average adult has lost at least 12 permanent teeth, according to expert’s recent studies. In fact, some of the common causes of tooth loss include injury, gum disease, and tooth decay. Replacing a pulled-out tooth is a vital part of restoring your confidence in your smile and also the key to maintaining good dental health along with a well-functioning bite.

Importance of Replacing a Missing Tooth 
All your teeth serve a purpose, and they have a more significant role than what you possibly think. Apart from serving a functional objective, which is aiding in proper chewing and word pronunciation, your teeth also highly influence your appearance. It’s challenging to show off your beautiful smile when your teeth are missing. 

Or maybe you lost a few posterior teeth, and you’re wondering, ‘Nobody even knows my teeth are pulled out, so it won’t affect my smile or my looks.’ But think again. Your remaining teeth and jaw bone can undergo severe consequences if you replace your pulled-out tooth, leaving you with more complications than you expected.

Still, if you decide to leave a space between your teeth, you’d put yourself at high risk of the following: your other teeth will start to move and shift with time. It will result in bite alignment problems, uneven wear from chewing, and TMJ issues. 

Get Your Teeth Replaced By a Trusted Dentist  
All in all, if you get any missing tooth, ensure to get it thoroughly checked by your trusted dentist as quickly as possible. They will discuss both surgical and non-surgical tooth replacement options with you to help you determine the suitable treatment, so you can be proud to smile in front of others. 

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!

A tooth implant is a prosthetic appliance used to fix anomalies caused by severe dental decay, periodontal diseases, facial injuries, and so forth. Dental implants are one of the most phenomenal innovations of modern dentistry as they have helped millions of people smile, eat, and speak better. The entire process of opting for a dental plant may take several months and is accompanied by several appointments, diagnostic tests, and surgeries.

Normalcy After Getting an Implant: The Time Frame
According to experts, you can continue with your complete and regular diet after one week of dental implant surgery. When it comes to solid foods, you should wait for two weeks before consuming any hard foods. It would help if you also abstained from eating sticky or too spicy foods in the first few weeks after the surgery. After four to five days of dental implant surgery, you can seamlessly eat foods like mashed potatoes, pasta, cheese, soft bread, and likewise for quick recovery. It is noteworthy that your mouth might feel uncomfortable after the surgery and that feeling might sustain for a week or two. 

In the first 24 hours after the dental implant operation, your teeth and jaw are in an intensely fragile situation, and you should consume liquids and very soft foods at this time. Protein shakes, broths, soups, smoothies, juices, and shakes are the ideal dietary options for the initial 24 hours after a dental implant operation. Likewise, you should also avoid hot and cold foods and beverages in the 24-48 hour period after the procedure. 

We can safely assert that attaining normal after getting dental implants is easy and happens within a short time frame. The only thing to consider is vigilance and care, and avoiding harmful foods. 

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!