When it comes to acid injured teeth, there is no time to waste.  A tooth's vitality is at risk from the very moment it becomes compromised. While dentists can perform the necessary root canal procedures to treat the compromised tooth, ideally an endodontist should be called upon to make proper restoration decisions. With more and more dental professionals turning to minimally invasive treatment options—especially when it comes to endodontics and root canals—it's important to consider how your treatment plan meets the goals of endodontics.

What Is Endodontics?

Endodontics, or "endo" for short, is a branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the pulp—the soft tissue inside teeth with blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. Root canal therapy is the primary treatment used to eliminate diseased pulp from teeth and prevent or treat potential infections. In a nutshell, an endodontist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect the dental pulp. In a perfect world, a dentist would refer a compromised tooth to an endodontist for a full range of treatments.

The Goal Of Endodontics

The goal of endodontics, at its core, is to protect the dental pulp. If the dental pulp becomes damaged or diseased, endodontists are trained to remove it. After the dental pulp has been removed, an endodontist will access and clean out the canals in order to create a healthy environment for proper tooth restoration. The endodontist will then provide the patient with a proper post and core to ensure that the restored tooth does not fracture or crack. However, sometimes during root canal procedures, the endodontist or dentist will have to remove more of the tooth than just the dental pulp. If too much of the tooth has been removed, then that could lead to more complications for the patient —especially if the tooth has already been compromised.

How To Treat A Compromised Tooth With Endodontics

When it comes to treating a compromised tooth, there are many factors that endodontists take into consideration. For example, an endodontist may choose to treat the compromised tooth by removing more of the internal structure of the tooth in order to ensure proper restoration— especially if the patient has advanced periodontal disease or is missing other teeth. On the other hand, an endodontist could remove just enough of the tooth's internal structure to treat it properly without compromising its integrity. The decision will depend on where the tooth is compromised and how much of it has to be restored. This option is known as Minimally Invasive (MI) dentistry and is a growing trend in endodontic due to its numerous benefits such as:
  • Preserving tooth structure
  • Reducing the risk of injury to surrounding teeth
  • Less pain and discomfort for patients

SS White: Dentists' No. 1 Choice For MI Equipment 

SS White Dental makes some of the most technologically advanced and efficient MI equipment used in all forms of endodontic treatment. Whether your practice is dedicated to the principles of MI dentistry or you simply want a versatile Minimally Invasive unit, SS White Dental has a full range of products to meet your needs. Check out our line of products today!