Endodontics in New City, NY

What is Endodontics?

Endodontics is the realm of dentistry that deals with the inside of a tooth, derived from the Greek words “endo” (inside) and “odont” (tooth). Teeth are hollow, and the hollow space within each tooth contains dental pulp – nerves and blood vessels. Each root of each tooth has a tiny opening at the tip of the root where these nerves and blood vessels enter the tooth. This soft tissue is called the pulp, also known as the tooth pulp, and the hollow space is the pulp chamber. The pulp provides hydration, nourishment, and sensation to the teeth.

An endodontist is a dental specialist who focuses on advanced training in the treatment of the pulp tissue, the pulp chamber, and any diseases associated with them. Endodontists specialize in saving your natural tooth through specific procedures that address infected or diseased dental pulp and the tissues surrounding the roots. Both of our board-certified endodontists, Dr. Cohen and Dr. Snyder, are best-in-class dental surgeons with impressive experience and accolades, having completed two or more years of specialized dental school training beyond their regular dentist education.

What is a Root Canal?

The term “root canal” is actually an anatomical one, describing the hollow space within the root of each tooth. It’s long and narrow, so we call it a canal. However, most people use this term to describe the dental procedure, root canal therapy, or RCT. This is one of the most common procedures performed by endodontists.

Root canal therapy involves the removal of the pulp tissue from the hollow chamber inside the tooth, cleaning the interior surface of the root, and filling it with an inert material (one that does not cause any reaction or rejection by the body). The procedure replaces infected dental pulp with biocompatible materials, allowing you to keep your natural tooth and restore normal function. Because of wide variations in root anatomy, root canals can be very simple or very complex. Some roots have canals that twist and turn and branch off, making the root canal treatment quite complicated.

Why Do Teeth Need Root Canal Treatments?

The dental pulp within a tooth has a limited ability to heal itself and repair damage. Injuries to this delicate tissue in the form of bacterial invasion (from a deep cavity or cracks) or trauma to the tooth can irreversibly damage the pulp tissue. This irreversible inflammation often causes severe pain, so many people who need root canals know that they need dental treatment. When infected tissues surrounding the tooth root become inflamed, it can affect your jaw and overall oral health.

The tricky thing about teeth needing root canals is that they don’t all hurt. In some cases, the nerve inside the tooth (that sends pain signals to the brain) just dies. A dead nerve cannot send any signals, so the tooth may become painless despite being diseased. Dead tissue in the body always attracts bacteria and will develop serious infections over time. Sometimes antibiotics are prescribed temporarily, but removal of the infected pulp through endodontic treatment is the definitive solution. The dead pulp tissue is a ticking time bomb and should be removed with a root canal treatment as soon as it’s discovered.

Advanced Training and Technologies in Endodontics

Our endodontists specialize in utilizing advanced technologies and techniques that make procedures more effective and pain-free. Through their extensive advanced training beyond dental school, they’ve mastered common procedures as well as complex cases that require specialized expertise. Modern endodontic treatments are virtually painless thanks to these advanced technologies and refined techniques.

What Other Procedures Can Our New City Endodontist Perform?

Aside from providing the highest quality of root canal therapy, our endodontic specialists in New City have expertise in several other areas, including specific procedures that go beyond what your regular dentist can offer.

Diagnosis of Complex Tooth Pain

Many other conditions disguise themselves as toothaches, and not every tooth with severe pain needs a root canal. Your endodontist performs detailed diagnostic tests on multiple teeth when someone experiences tooth pain that may be painful or originate from the jaw. If the pain is not coming from a problem within the tooth, then a root canal will not fix the problem. Endodontist specialists help determine the source of a toothache so the correct treatment takes place.

Retreatment of Failed Root Canals

A failed root canal may become reinfected at any point in the future. There are many different reasons for the failure of a root canal. An endodontist determines whether an endodontic retreatment of the root canal will have a successful long-term prognosis. Root canal retreatments are procedures that remove the existing root canal filling, clean the interior surface of the canals, treat any bacterial infection present, and refill the canals to repair and restore function to the tooth.

Surgery of Tooth Roots

In some cases, the infection within a tooth root does not respond to root canal treatment, which approaches the infection from the inside of the tooth. An endodontist in New City can also approach a tooth root from the outside, by accessing the end of the root surgically through endodontic surgery. This may include a root end resection (apicoectomy), where the infected tip is removed and sealed.

Treatment of Resorption

Resorption is an unusual phenomenon in which the cells either on the outside or inside of the root malfunction and begin to dissolve the hard tooth structure. Both cause large defects in the tooth. An experienced endodontist in New City, New York, works to remove these malfunctioning cells, stop the resorption process, repair the damaged area with fibrous tissue or other materials, and restore the tooth in hopes of saving it. Resorption is difficult to treat and should always involve an endodontist’s intervention.

Management of Developing Tooth Roots

In young children, the teeth appear in the mouth before the roots have completely formed. If these young teeth sustain injuries, it can cause the growth of the root to stop. Endodontists use specialized materials and techniques to stimulate growth and development of these immature roots so the teeth will be strong enough to last the child’s lifetime. This helps preserve the natural tooth structure and prevents the need for crowns or other restorations later.

Contact Our Experienced Endodontic Specialists in New City, NY

Rockland Dental Specialists offers endodontic care in the New City, NY area. Endodontists Dr. Lisa Nava Cohen & Dr. Rachel Snyder, and board-certified periodontist and implantologist Dr. Shalom Mintz are here to bring you excellent oral care with more than two decades of combined experience. They are passionate about helping patients resolve their gum disease and maintain their overall oral health. Contact us today at 845-259-2500 to speak with one of our team members about the New City, NY endodontic services we offer, or book an appointment online here.

Frequently Asked Questions Endodontic in New City

Who is capable of performing an endodontic treatment?

Although a general dentist can perform a root canal, an endodontist is preferred as they specialize in endodontic treatment. With two or more years of advanced training beyond dental school, endodontists specialize in complex procedures that regular dentists may not be equipped to handle.

How long is the root canal procedure?

A root canal typically takes 1-1.5 hours. Each case varies as our endodontist gives individualized attention and care to each patient. Most patients find the procedure painless with modern techniques.

How do I know if I need a root canal?

A root canal needs to be diagnosed by a dentist. Some signs include hot and cold sensitivity, swelling, infection, and pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your general dentist for an evaluation and diagnosis. Early treatment can prevent severe pain and save your natural tooth.