Myths about Root Canal Treatment

Post Root Canal Care
Image: foothillsendo.com

An endodontist with more than a decade of professional experience, Dr. Jamie Ring treats patients at his Westminster, Colorado, practice, Foothills Endodontic Specialists. Dr. Jamie Ring regularly performs root canal treatments and, for individuals who have experienced complications from previous root canals, root canal retreatments.

A root canal may not be the most pleasant procedure, but it may preserve the life of a tooth when the tooth has become infected. However, the general public has some misunderstandings about root canals that sometimes discourage people from having the procedure when it would be beneficial for them. Following are a few common myths about root canal treatment.

While there may be some pain in the tooth after a root canal, the pain probably is not due to the procedure itself. The pain may be caused by the underlying infection in the nerve area and surrounding tissue. Once the infection is adequately addressed, the pain will subside.

On the flip side, some people believe that because a root canal removes the nerve, there is no pain at all associated with the treatment. Depending on the severity of the underlying infection, there will be some pain after the procedure. The dentist will prescribe antibiotics or other medication that will help eradicate the infection and minimize the pain, but there will be some pain and tenderness after a root canal.

Some people also have the misconception that a root canal is a precursor to extraction, so the procedure is pointless since the tooth eventually will need to come out anyway. This is not the case, however, as the root canal is a process to save the tooth, not prepare it for removal. The majority of root canals are successful in this regard.

Root Canals No Longer Need to Be Painful

Root Canals
Image: foothillsendo.com

Focusing on the oral well-being of his patients, Dr. Jamie Ring has provided dental care for 13 years. As a member of the American Dental Association, Dr. Ring completed his endodontics residency at Nova Southeastern University and is a graduate of Temple University School of Dental Medicine. Helping his patients achieve oral health, Dr. Jamie Ring is trained in the practice of root canal.

Root canals are recommended to patients when bacteria is introduced to the pulp of the tooth through a crack or cavity, compromising the nerve within the tooth. Causing an infection, the bacteria eventually kills the nerve.

To those who have undergone the process, a painless root canal may seem an unlikely prospect. However, an alternative technique is making it a possibility for many dental patients. By sealing the unprotected nerve with adhesives, direct pulp capping is a pain-free technique that avoids the root canal altogether.

Not only is the procedure much less expensive than traditional root canals, it generally takes only one visit for the endodontist to complete. Unlike traditional root canals where the tooth is hollowed out and the pulp is removed with the nerve, direct pulp capping thoroughly cleans and seals the exposed nerve area.

With a success rate of 92 percent, this alternative root canal procedure uses an advanced adhesive sealant similar to the liquid plastic which contact lenses are manufactured from. The new compound hardens to create a hermetic seal that protects and coats the tooth as well as the nerve.

Post Root Canal Care

Post Root Canal Care
Image: foothillsendo.com

Dr. Jamie Ring has practiced endodontics since 2008. In that capacity, Dr. Jamie Ring has developed proficiency in the performance of root canals.

After a root canal procedure, a patient can expect to feel some inflammation and discomfort. This is typically a sign that the surgical site is healing itself. Some patients may also experience tenderness in the jaw after holding it open during the procedure, though this typically also goes away after a few days. For both symptoms, most patients find that ibuprofen and other over-the-counter pain medications can provide effective relief.

Patients should avoid eating immediately following the procedure, as anesthetic can lead to accidental biting of the tongue. However, even after the anesthetic wears off, patients should avoid chewing or biting on the tooth until it is fully restored. Patients can brush and floss normally unless directed otherwise by a dentist.

Experts suggest that a patient contact his or her dentist if pain becomes severe or does not subside after a few days. Similarly, any visible swelling or symptom recurrence should receive professional attention, as should a missing filling or uneven bite.

Continuing Education Courses through the American Dental Association

American Dental Association Logo
Image: http://www.ada.org/en/

A graduate of the Temple University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Jamie Ring serves as owner of Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Prof. LLC, in Westminster, Colorado. To remain current in his field, Dr. Jamie Ring maintains a professional membership with the American Dental Association (ADA).

Throughout the year, the ADA provides a number of continuing education (CE) opportunities to its members as well as the wider dental community. The association’s numerous courses and programs equip dental professionals with the knowledge necessary for administering up-to-date care to patients and satisfying the various state education requirements. The following covers some of the online CE options that the ADA offers to practitioners:

ADA Continuing Education Online
The ADA offers the most online CE credit courses out of any association in the country. Practitioners can access any available course throughout the day, which allows for more convenient and diverse learning opportunities. Available courses include Back to Basics: Hand Hygiene for the Dental Team and Marketing Your Practice in the Digital Age.

Dentistry in Long-Term Care: Creating Pathways to Success
This course helps dental professionals cultivate expertise in elder dental care, such as the creation of delivery models and the implementation of daily mouth care practices. Dental specialists learn through eight online modules, completing work at their own pace. At the end of the course, they earn 10 hours of CE credit.

ADA Executive Program in Dental Practice Management
In partnership with the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, the ADA’s Center for Professional Success offers a certificate fulfillment program to help practitioners cultivate success at their clinics. The program comprises six courses on a variety of topics such as business strategy, leadership skills, and conflict management.

The Root Canal Procedure

Dr. Jamie Ring assists patients with a variety of serious oral health issues as an endodontist. At his practice, Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Dr. Jamie Ring evaluates patients for root canals and performs the procedure as necessary.

Root canals are not a popular procedure among patients, as they can be uncomfortable. However, they also provide relief for symptoms associated with an infected tooth pulp, such as pain when pressure is placed against the tooth and extreme sensitivity to temperature changes. The procedure has a number of different stages.

After first taking a series of x-rays to determine the extent of the infection, the dentist will numb the area to be treated. Then he or she will open the tooth in order to reach the pulp and then remove the pulp that has become infected. After clearing the infection in the tooth, the dentist may leave the tooth open or place a temporary covering on it. This approach allows the tooth to continue to drain. Then, at a later visit that usually takes place about a week after the procedure, he or she will place a crown over the tooth that is designed to seal the tooth and prevent infection from occurring there again.

Reasons for Root Canal Retreatment

An endodontist with more than a decade of professional experience, Dr. Jamie Ring currently treats patients at his Westminster, Colorado, private practice, Foothills Endodontic Specialists. Dr. Jamie Ring regularly performs both root canal treatments and, for individuals who have experienced complications from previous root canals, root canal retreatment.

Root canal therapy involves removing infected pulp and nerves from the center of the tooth and the tooth roots. During this procedure, the endodontist uses tiny files to remove the infected tissues. However, root canals often have a complicated anatomy that can include narrow or curved canals that are difficult to see. Therefore, areas of infection may be missed during the initial root canal treatment, requiring a retreatment of the tooth.

In other cases, the dentist or endodontist who performed the first root canal procedure may have made errors in treating and sealing the tooth properly. He or she may have allowed saliva to contaminate the treatment area, placed the filling or crown incorrectly, or delayed placement of the crown after treatment. These scenarios are likely to invite a new infection that warrants opening the area and performing a second root canal procedure.

Preparing for a Root Canal

For more than six years, Dr. Jamie Ring has led Foothills Endodontic Specialists in Westminster, Colorado, as owner and practicing endodontist. In his work, Dr. Jamie Ring specializes in providing patients with root canal procedures.

Contrary to popular belief, a root canal procedure is not especially painful. There are a number of steps a patient can take in order to better prepare for the treatment. First, posing any questions to the dentist or endodontist, a root canal specialist, is necessary to understanding the procedure as a whole. Specifically, patients should inquire into whether or not antibiotics will be administered and what the ideal nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen, would be to take prior to the root canal.

Getting a full night’s sleep is also helpful leading up to a root canal. A well-rested patient is less likely to develop anxieties in anticipation of the procedure and will arrive at the dentist’s office in overall better health compared to a person who has not slept. Finally, a patient should eat a healthy meal before the procedure, which can last several hours. During this time a full stomach will help a patient avoid illness, aches, and hunger.

Recovering from a Root Canal

Since 2008, endodontist Dr. Jamie Ring has functioned as the owner of Foothills Endodontic Specialists, LLC, in Westminster, Colorado. In his position at the dental clinic, Dr. Jamie Ring works as a root canal specialist.

Recovering from a root canal procedure can be painful at times, though effects of the surgery should linger for just a few days. In most cases, a patient will experience tenderness throughout the jaw and other areas surrounding the tooth that has been operated on. This tenderness can cause considerable discomfort when the mouth is open for extended periods of time, such as when the patient speaks or eats.

Despite the relatively short recovery time associated with a root canal, some people may wish to seek over-the-counter pain medication as a source of relief. If the patient chooses take medication, he or she must adhere to all instructions. Many medications, for example, should be taken shortly following a meal. The tooth or teeth that have been worked on may feel slightly different for several additional days. If this discomfort or any other pain lasts more than a week, patients should contact their endodontist.