The Good News About Your Calcified Root Canal Treatment

The Good News About Your Calcified Root Canal Treatment

Root canal therapy (RCT) is a widely used treatment aimed at preserving badly damaged teeth, so you can avoid extraction and maintain your bite balance and your smile. While the vast majority of root canals are straightforward, sometimes the tooth’s anatomy makes things a little more challenging. Calcified root canals are a good example. 

Fortunately, advances in dental techniques and technology allow calcified root canals to be treated successfully. The key is having an endodontist who’s experienced in treating these teeth.

As a top-rated endodontist practice in New York City, Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC uses state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge techniques to treat calcified root canals successfully. In this post, our team reviews the basics of root canal calcification and offers a quick overview of their treatment.

Calcified root canals: The basics

Extending from the center of your tooth down to the tip of the tooth root, your tooth canals contain the “living” tissue or pulp that supports tooth health, including blood vessels and nerves. When the pulp is damaged from decay, infection, or trauma, root canals help preserve the tooth by removing the pulp and replacing it with a special filling material.

Calcified root canals make this process a little more challenging. Root canal calcification happens when calcium deposits build up inside the canal, making it more difficult to access and remove damaged pulp. 

Calcification happens for different reasons, including:

Calcification also tends to become more common with age. In the past, teeth with calcified canals frequently needed to be extracted. But advances in treatment mean these teeth can usually be saved and restored.

New treatments mean better outcomes

The underlying treatment of a calcified root canal is the same as for any other tooth: access the damaged pulp, remove it, cleanse the canal, then seal it and fill it. A crown typically is applied to the tooth to protect it. The primary difference between the two procedures lies in how the pulp is accessed and removed, despite the areas of calcification.

Our team begins with a thorough assessment of your tooth. Advanced dental imaging techniques allow our team to visualize the entire tooth structure, identifying areas of calcification before your root canal procedure even begins. 

The next step is to make a tiny hole in your tooth. This hole enables the team to reach your canals and clear them out using files or special rotary instruments. Our team uses special dental microscopes to obtain the clear, “up-close” images of your tooth, ensuring every canal has been appropriately treated. 

Once the canals are cleared, they’re sealed and filled. We’ll place a temporary crown on the tooth to protect it until your permanent crown is ready to be applied a couple of weeks later.

State-of-the-art care for your healthy smile

Our team is dedicated to offering the most advanced treatment options for every patient, providing truly patient-centered care based on each individual’s unique needs. To learn more about calcified root canal treatment or about any of the other advanced treatments we offer, call 929-229-0255 or book an appointment online at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC today.

You Might Also Enjoy...

Dental Health Benefits of Your Apicoectomy

Apicoectomy is a special endodontic procedure that focuses on decay and damage located at the very tip of the tooth root. Here’s how an apicoectomy can help you enjoy optimal oral health and avoid tooth loss.

How are Holistic Root Canals Different?

Holistic root canals use special materials to help patients with specific sensitivities or allergies reap the benefits of a root canal without unpleasant side effects. Here’s how they differ from a traditional root canal procedure.

When to See a Specialist About Your Toothache

Toothaches aren’t uncommon, but they should never be ignored. In fact, some types of tooth pain require special treatment that’s best administered by a skilled endodontist. Here’s when to seek specialist care for your tooth pain.

When Are Swollen Gums a Medical Problem?

Swollen gums are never normal, but do they always need medical attention, or is it OK to take a wait-and-see attitude? Here’s what to do if your gums are swollen or sore.

Why Is My Tooth Turning Brown?

Teeth can change colors for many reasons, but when a single tooth turns brown or dark, it’s almost always a sign of a serious problem that needs to be addressed right away. Here’s an overview of some of the most common causes.