Endodontics

In Mountain View

Root canals save decayed teeth from getting extracted. This treatment is often necessary when the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels, becomes inflamed or infected due to deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the same tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth.

When a root canal treatment doesn't work, there’s a solution in sight: endodontic retreatment. This procedure can fix the root canal and save the tooth, allowing you to regain full control of your oral health. With endodontic retreatment, you can start smiling again with confidence.

If you’ve cracked one or more of your teeth, chewing can begin to move the cracked pieces, which irritates the pulp within the tooth. Biting pressure can cause the crack to close quickly, which results in sharp pain. This constant movement will damage the pulp and generate consistent discomfort, even when you are not chewing. When left untreated, cracks can infect the pulp tissue, which can spread to the bone and gum surrounding the problematic tooth.

Most root canals have a 90 percent chance of success. But a lingering infection on the apex, or root tip of your tooth, can cause your root canal to fail. Once this area becomes inflamed, a root canal may not be enough to alleviate the problem, and an apicoectomy may be recommended.

An apicoectomy completely removes the remaining tissue causing the infection on the apex. Your dentist will then prepare the tooth and apply a small filling to complete the procedure, allowing you to smile, laugh, and chew with ease.