Endodontics

Here’s a fun fact: “Endo” is a Greek word meaning “inside” and “odont” is Greek for “tooth.” Put them together and you have endodontics, a branch of dentistry concerned with treating the inside of teeth (dental pulp), as well as the tissues that surround the roots of a tooth.

Endodontics is synonymous with root canal treatment. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in saving teeth by treating the soft pulp tissue inside the tooth. This requires special advanced training, such as the kind that Dr. Belkis C. Del Puerto of Smiles at Doral uses to help her patients.

What Is a Root Canal?

Each of your teeth contains one or more root canals, or tiny passageways that contain pulp. Pulp is made up of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. It can become infected by an untreated cavity, which allows bacteria to enter. A cracked tooth can also lead to tooth decay and infection.

If you experience pain in a tooth while chewing, have swollen or tender gums around an affected tooth, or notice that a tooth is sensitive to hot or cold temperatures, then your tooth may be infected.

Left untreated, pulp infection can lead to a painful tooth abscess. The infection can spread to your gum and jawbone, or eventually even other parts of your body, causing serious medical conditions.

Equipped with advanced technology such as digital X-rays and utilizing specialized techniques, Dr. Del Puerto can perform root canal treatment to save teeth. She will remove the infected pulp, clean the inside of the canals, fill them with a special material, and then seal the tooth with a crown.

While root canal therapy has gotten a bad rap, it is actually relatively painless and less expensive than extracting a tooth and restoring it with another procedure.

Endodontic Treatment in Doral, Florida

By saving your tooth, Dr. Del Puerto can help preserve your natural smile and enable you to continue enjoying your favorite foods. As long as you maintain your oral health, root canal treatment can last a lifetime. 

If you are in need of endodontic care, don’t hesitate to contact Smiles at Doral. Call us today at (305) 597-2227 to arrange an appointment with Dr. Del Puerto or use our convenient online form to arrange your visit.