Question:
What is Sonic Root Canal Treatment?
Where can I read more on latest root canal treatment techniques?
My dentist told me I need a root canal. I do not have any pain
on the tooth. He showed me on the x-ray that the cavity is
close to nerves. But, unless he opens up the tooth, he would not
know certainly. So, in this case, would it be better to start for
a root canal treatment from the beginning or to drill the tooth as if filling
will be done and do a root canal treatment if necessary?
Or, are they the same thing? I do not know too much how root canal
treatment is done.
Answer:
One thing that you need without a doubt is a second opinion.
Please get a consultation with an Endodontist.
www.aae.org
Search for endodontic techniques, rotary endodontics, crown-down
technique, Buchanan endodontics for starters.
Did he do any vitality tests? Sometimes the only sure way of knowing
if the root canal is needed is actually removing the caries. If your
dentist is not sure that a root canal is necessary, the best thing
would probably be to remove the caries and see if it reached the pulp.
Strongly disagree.
Overt signs and symptoms coupled with objective
analysis precludes the need for *exploratory* tooth surgery.
Your recommendation also ignores the fact that just removing
the caries adds another trauma to the pulp, and that
the 'one more trauma' is usually enough to convert
a pulpitis to irreversible.
Symptomatic or asymptomatic teeth with constricted pulp chambers,
large restorations, fractures, that are candidates for crown/onlay
restorations are also usually candidates for RCT.
That 'one more trauma' of preparing the tooth is usually enough
to push a compromised pulp 'over the edge'.
Obviously I'm not as radical as you, especially when we haven't even
seen the x-ray or had the benefit of any tests to determine the
vitality of the pulp. I don't equate a deep restoration with an
automatic root canal.
