Root Canal

Endodontics, also called root canal treatment, is a dental procedure that is done when a tooth has been damaged by deep decay, trauma, or infection. The main goal of endodontics is to keep the tooth from having to be pulled out and to get rid of any remaining infection so that the tooth is healthy and whole.

If you are looking for a Shoreline dentist, we always recommend going to the best dentist so that this professional can determine if it is necessary to perform endodontics since, depending on the degree of the lesion, he will have to study the ideal treatment. In general, these are the main signs that you need this dental treatment:

  1. Tooth discoloration
  2. Dental hypersensitivity to stimuli that are too cold or too hot
  3. Pain or discomfort when biting or chewing
  4. Swelling of the gums in the area adjacent to the tooth with decay
  5. Broken or chipped tooth
  6. Pain after trauma, fall, or blow

Endodontics is one of the most common treatments. The American Association of Endodontists says that each year about 25 million root canals are done. There are 41,000 root canals done every single day. Based on this, it seems likely that at least 287,000 root canals are done every week. We are pleased to offer root canal treatments which we perform in our dental clinic in Shoreline, WA. During this intervention, the endodontist is responsible for removing the dental pulp that is inside the tooth and that has been affected by cavities, trauma, or infections.

During the consultation, small holes are made in the crown of the tooth (always in places where the appearance won't be affected). This gives access to the inside of the tooth, where the pulp is removed by cleaning and disinfecting the root canals very carefully.

At this point, Dr. Eric Yao will decide on the case, if an intracanal medication needs to be put in and if the treatment needs to be continued at a second appointment or if it can be finished at the first one. This will depend on the patient, the diagnosis, and the state of the tooth before the procedure. When the dentist says the inside of the tooth is ready, we move on to the sealing phase. Depending on the situation, we use different materials (cement, gutta-percha, bioceramic materials, etc.) to seal the canals as tightly as possible so that bacteria can't get back in.

After Endodontics, What You Should Expect

  • The nerves have been taken out of the tooth, so it doesn't hurt at all.
  • Endodontics can sometimes cause the color of the pieces to change to a darker tone, so the tooth needs to be whitened from the inside to get it as close as possible to its original color.
  • In the days after an endodontic procedure, you shouldn't eat gum or nuts, which are too hard or sticky to chew well.
  • Normal tooth brushing should be done, but extra care should be taken when using dental floss near the temporary filling.
  • Root canals are often needed because of large cavities or trauma that has caused a lot of damage to the crown. In most cases, pins, inlays, or sleeves are needed to fix the tooth.
  • Always go to check-up appointments so you can see how the treatment is going.

What Does a Root Canal Consist Of?

Endodontics is the removal, partial or total, of the dental pulp of a tooth affected by deep decay, trauma, fracture, or other less common pathologies. At Dr. Eric Yao’s office, the best shoreline dentist, we have a protocol defined by a series of stages that allow endodontics to be carried out successfully. After an exhaustive diagnosis of the patient's conditions, we see if endodontics can be the ideal treatment.

After opting for this procedure, we resort to the extraction of the dental pulp once the anesthesia has been applied. The cleaning of the ducts and the obturation is the last two phases of endodontics. Once the treatment is finished, we promise to keep track of the dental piece to ensure the effectiveness of the intervention.

Basic Dental Care for Good Oral Health

Everyone should remember that good oral hygiene is the first step toward overall wellness. The accumulation of bacteria in the mouth is the cause of many diseases. Dr. Eric Yao is an expert in family dentistry. Because of this, we put a lot of emphasis on prevention, since it's important to keep our teeth and gums in good shape and avoid more aggressive treatments.

So that 2023 gets off to a good start and we can try to take care of our teeth all year, we're going to list the basics of dental care that will help us have good oral health:

  • Don't eat too much sugar and try to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. When you eat sugar, the bacteria in your mouth grow, which makes it more likely that you will get cavities.
  • After each meal, you should brush your teeth. This is the most important piece of advice we can get about taking care of our teeth. It's important to brush your teeth three times a day, after each meal. If that's not possible, at least do it in the morning and before bed. Also, each time you brush your teeth, you should do it for two to three minutes and move your brush in a circle around the teeth and from top to bottom in the front (from fang to fang).
  • Switch out the brush often. As a general rule, you should replace your toothbrush every three to four months or when the bristles start to wear down and lose their firmness.
  • Do not smoke. In addition to being bad for your health in general, smoking makes it easier for bacteria to grow because it makes you salivate less. So, this substance also makes it much more likely that you will get cavities and gum diseases like periodontitis or gingivitis.
  • Every day, floss and floss. By flossing, you can get rid of food particles and plaque that have built up between your teeth or along the gum line.
  • Use mouthwash to make rinses. You can find the right mouthwash to keep your teeth and gums healthy based on who you are or what is going on in your mouth. Talk to your dentist about which one is best for you.
  • Visit your dentist often. At least once a year, preferably twice a year, you should go to the dentist to get a full cleaning and exam to check on your oral health.

If you follow these tips and make them part of your oral care routine, you will have much whiter, cleaner, and more beautiful teeth. Your gums will be pink, and they won't hurt or bleed when you eat or brush your teeth. These tips will also help in the prevention of bad breath.

Contact us at Dr. Eric Yao’s office, which is one of the best shoreline dentists, as we have the most advanced systems in this area and are always at the forefront of endodontics. We use innovative file systems that are chosen for each patient based on their anatomy and the complexity of their case, as well as tonic irrigation activation systems and sealing of ducts with a continuous wave thermoplastic technique that helps seal all spaces. We are waiting for you at our dental clinic in Shoreline preparing new surprises to share in 2023. Happy New Year!