Achieve a Happy and Healthy Smile with
Root Canal Treatment In Jupiter, FL
Our State Of The Art Office Is Only A Few Miles From Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, And All Of Palm Beach County.
What Is A Root Canal?
Your tooth is a living part of your body. Inside of your tooth, underneath the white enamel and the hard layer of dentin that lies beneath the enamel, is a chamber of soft tissue called pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. The canal is like pencil lead in a pencil. The pulp receives nutrition through these blood vessels and the sensory nerves carry signals to the brain. This all helps that tooth grow a root during its development. Through development the root canal system can actually become somewhat complex. Let’s first identify what can go wrong that takes you to an dentist to pursue a corrective root canal procedure.
The Problems That May Lead To A Root Canal
That living pulp inside of the root canal can become inflamed or infected. That inflammation or infection may be the result of some deep decay from a deep cavity, repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a chip or cracked tooth. Simple causes that include all of us; too much sugar, not enough brushing and good oral hygiene and you have a cavity. You don’t see your dentist on a regular basis and that cavity infects the pulp. Or, you enjoy sports or lifting weights. You clench your teeth and literally crack a tooth. That crack will cause inflammation or an infection. You might have an accident, bumping a tooth. You can’t see anything but the pulp can still become inflamed. Most teeth can be treated with a root canal. Occasionally a tooth can’t be saved because the root canal is not accessible or the root is severely fractured or damaged. It is also possible that the tooth doesn’t have adequate bone support to allow a root canal and a restoration.
Award Winning
Dentistry at Ritter + Ramsey
Our Doctors are known nationally for their knowledge of practice materials and techniques. Ritter and Ramsey have provided industry insights and research to some of the top dental manufactures worldwide. Together, they lecture both nationally and internationally in excess of 50 times per year.
Advantages Of Having A Root Canal
Saving your natural tooth has its advantages. Prior to having the tooth crowned or having the restoration completed you should try not to chew or bite with the treated tooth. It is susceptible to fracturing or cracking. Other than that the practice of good oral hygiene is advised. Brushing twice a day and flossing as you should always be doing. Once the crown is in place you can again enjoy efficient chewing without discomfort or pain. You can have a normal biting force, for a carrot or an apple, as an example. There is no change in the appearance of your smile, the appearance is totally natural. It will also protect the neighboring teeth for more excessive wear or any additional straining. A tooth that has gone through a root canal in most cases can last as long as natural teeth. Infrequently the treatment does not heal the tooth and the pain could continue. Or several months or years later the tooth could become diseased again. If this does happen the procedure can be repeated and the tooth can still be saved. It simply reinforces that you should have regular dental checkups scheduled for preventative exams.
What Is The Root Canal Procedure Like?
Once your dentist has confirmed you indeed have an internal problem with a tooth he may refer you to an endodontist. The endodontist will examine the X-ray and the tooth and determine whether a root canal is indeed the solution. If so, the procedure is simple and relatively painless. A local anesthetic will be administered first. Once the tooth is numb a protective sheet will be placed around the tooth called a dental dam, or a rubber dam. This isolates the tooth keeping it clean during the procedure and free from any saliva. The next step is to make an opening in the crown of the tooth to gain access to the pulp. Very small instruments are used to remove the pulp and to clean the pulp chamber and the root canal of any diseased material. Once the chamber and the canal is clean the endodontist will fill the root canal with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. This material is a rubber like substance that is placed in the canal with an adhesive cement to ensure that the canal is completely sealed. After the canal is successfully filled a temporary filling will then close up the opening that was made in the crown. At this time it will be strongly suggested that you revisit either the dentist or the endodontist to have a crown or another type of restoration place over the tooth to protect and restore its full function. With the modern techniques and available anesthetics today most patients report that they were comfortable during the procedure. For the first few days after the treatment, as you are waiting for your crown, the tooth may feel sensitive or simply different from your other teeth. If there was pain and infection prior to the root canal it stands to reason that the tooth will feel different. The endodontist can prescribe a medication or an over the counter product may be all you will need to relief yourself from minor discomfort.
Do You Need A Root Canal?
If you find that particular tooth has become sensitive to either hot or cold on a regular basis. Or if that tooth is tender to the touch or hurts to bite and chew. The tooth may become discolored which will be more evident. Or there could be issues with the gum tissue around the tooth. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all and it may take an X-ray to determine that there is inflammation or an infection in the root canal. An X-ray can also show a crack in the tooth leading the dentist to investigate further.
Preventive Measures
It is amazing how different we all are, anatomically, physically and physiologically. You may practice good oral hygiene as suggested with twice a day brushing and flossing after meals and still find yourself needing a root canal because you grind your teeth at night or clench your teeth lifting weights or swinging a tennis racket. Or you had that small crash on your bicycle. A root canal has become a very safe and standard procedure.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY DENTISTRY SINCE 1994
Traditionally, hours of hand labor in a dental laboratory are invested in these precise products. With the adoption of more technology into dentistry, digital imaging continues to grow in importance. Most restorations begin with a mold of your mouth that involves messy impression materials. With the Itero Digital Scanner, you can say goodbye to the mess. Itero eliminates this step, replacing it with simple digital images captured with a handheld wand. The images quickly appear on a computer monitor as 3-D models of your teeth.
Expert Tooth Restoration Using Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain dental crowns are used to restore dental implants, to secure dental bridges, restore and help repair broken or damaged teeth. Dental crowns can be performed in one visit. The goal with dental crowns is to create a natural looking smile. These types of crowns can add the strength and durability to any tooth with any needed repair. Aesthetically, dental crowns are used to cover a discolored tooth and even narrow the gaps between largely separated teeth.
The Finest Porcelain Veneers for a New Smile
At Ritter & Ramsey, watching patients discover a brilliant new smile is the highlight of our days. Porcelain veneers can transform a smile dramatically. A beautiful new set of porcelain veneers can correct chips, stains, and even deeply discolored teeth. But they can also alter the length and size of teeth, or help teeth that seem rotated appear straight. While it sounds dramatic, only the stunning visual outcome is surprising. Porcelain veneers provide a highly conservative approach to aesthetic smile makeovers.
Meet Our Internationally Recognized Cosmetic Dentists
Our doctors have more than 40 years of combined experience diagnosing and treating dental health issues. Patients trust our team to perform top quality work and send you home from your appointments with a gleaming smile. Get to know our doctors below and be sure to meet our wonderful, hard-working staff as well.
Dr. Robert Ritter
Dr. Robert Ritter grew up in Palm Beach prior to attending Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine. Practicing since 1994 and logging more than 200 hours of continuing education per year, Dr. Ritter is an extremely proficient doctor of restorative dentistry.
Dr. Christopher Ramsey
Dr. Christopher Ramsey was raised in Jupiter and achieved his dental degree from Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia. Dr. Ramsey is on the editorial review board for two dentistry journals and stays on the cutting edge of cosmetic dentistry treatments.
Dr. Isabelle Ritter
Dr. Isabelle Ritter graduated from Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine in 1994. Dr. Ritter provides tailored, mercury-free dental care for your young children and teens. She enjoys providing young people with healthy habits and gleaming smiles.