Restoring the Tooth After Root Canal

After the root canal procedure your tooth may need to be restored. This gives your tooth natural shape and appearance. In the front teeth a composite filling material is used to restore the tooth. The molars and premolars need a crown. Before the crown is made your dentist will make a base or foundation to reinforce the tooth and support the crown. The base to reinforce the tooth is called a core. A post may be needed to hold the core in place. The post is a rod made of metal. Your dentist may take out a little root filling material from the root canals to make space for the post. The crown is prepared in a dental laboratory. Material used to make crown are porcelain, metal, or a combination of the two. The crown is cemented onto the base or foundation.

Root canal procedure can fail. Reasons for failure of root canal include

All the infection from a canal was not removed
All  the canals were not cleaned or desinfected
Tooth gets infected again if there is a leakage around an old filling or crown from which the bacteria can enter the tooth.
The procedure to do a repeat root canal treatment is the same but it is more complicated and time consuming than the first one because the restorative material has to be removed before the second root canal.

Most of the failed root canal treatments have infection that are difficult to eliminate.
You may need endodontic surgery, either in place of or after retreatment. If a second root canal is not possible endodontic surgery apicoectomy may be needed. During apicoectomy, the root tip, or apex, and the infected tissue are removed. Then filling is done to seal the end of the root. An apicoectomy is performed using an operating microscope. That's why apicoectomy is also called endodontic microsurgery. Apicoectomy may be needed if the tooth remains infected after retreatment. The success rate for apicoectomy is approximately 80% to 90%. If the tooth remains infected after apicoectomy also it will have to be extracted.

  Dr. Claudio A. Sorrentino

  www.dentalpalermo.com.ar

All about Dental Sealants and how they help prevent Tooth Decay

At times your dentist may place a plastic coating on the chewing (occlusal) surface of the permanent back teeth (the molars and premolars). This plastic coating is known as sealant and it helps to protect the teeth from decay.

Why are dental sealants used on teeth?

The chewing (occlusal) surface of the permanent back teeth (the molars and premolars) has grooves or "fissures." Food particles get deposited in the narrow grooves and it can be difficult to clean them as the fissures can be deep and narrower than even a single bristle of a toothbrush. Plaque (a sticky substance that is formed when bacteria present in the mouth get deposited along with saliva, food particles and other natural substances on the surface of the teeth) gets accumulated in them. The bacteria in plaque break the sugar (carbohydrate) in food and lead to formation of acid in the mouth and can lead to tooth decay if it is not removed. The dental sealants protect the grooved and pitted areas by creating a smooth surface by covering the fissured area.

When are dental sealants applied?

In children a dentist may apply sealant as soon as the molar teeth come fully into the mouth (erupt) to protect them from caries. Application of dental sealant on the chewing (occlusal) surfaces of these teeth helps to protect the tooth from caries.

Can dental sealants be used only on the chewing surface of molar and premolar permanent teeth?

Dental sealants are mostly used to cover the chewing (occlusal) surfaces of the back permanent teeth (the molars and premolars) as they have grooves or pits. The sealant helps to protect these teeth for decay. They may be placed on other teeth if they have grooves or pits.

Can dental sealants be used on teeth of adults?

Yes sealants can be placed on teeth of adults as well. But they are used less often in adults. They are used in adults if they have deep grooves and fissures that do not already have fillings or dental sealants.

What do dental sealants look like?

Various types of sealant are present. They can be clear, white or have a slight tint depending on the type of dental sealant that is used.

How are dental sealants placed?

Your dentist will first clean your teeth with a paste and brush, then rinse and dry your tooth/teeth. An acidic solution will be placed on the tooth to make a fine rougher surface than the surrounding tooth enamel (this rough surface promotes the dental sealant to attach to the tooth). After drying the tooth your dentist will place the liquid dental sealant on the tooth and it is hardened by using a light. After the sealant hardens on the tooth you can chew on the tooth again.

How long does a dental sealant last?

Dental sealants have been proven to be effective in preventing decay on chewing (occlusal) surfaces. They can last for years and can be reapplied if needed.

Is fluoride needed after dental sealant is placed?

Yes, as the sealants protect only the surface they are applied on where as fluoride protects all the surfaces of the tooth from decay and cavities.

  Dr. Claudio A. Sorrentino

  www.dentalpalermo.com.ar