Your treatment plan is tailored to your needs. Because of this, Arvada endodontist Dr. Paguio always spends the first part of your initial appointment diagnosing your pain or evaluating your general dentist’s diagnosis. Once Dr. Paguio has determined the best course of action for addressing your pain, he will walk you through the procedure, step-by-step, and discuss your sedation options with you.

A root canal is a simple way to eliminate infection from a tooth and save your natural tooth. If you are experiencing severe pain, or if your general dentist has recommended a root canal, Art of Endodontics can help you.

A root canal involves removing infected pulp from inside the tooth. The pulp is a collection of nerves and blood vessels that build the tooth during childhood, but is mostly a way for your adult tooth to monitor for cracks and cavities. Infection can be caused by a variety of things, including decay, trauma, cracks, and more. Repeated dental procedures can also cause infection. If required, Dr. Paguio will use a retrieval process to remove any amalgam from previous fillings or other dental work that may have made its way into the tooth’s root canal system.

Once the pulp is removed, the root canals of the tooth are cleaned and the inside of the tooth is sealed. A temporary crown is then placed, and you should visit your general dentist within two to four weeks for the placement of a permanent crown.

During the procedure, local anesthesia is used to relieve any discomfort you might feel. If you are more prone to dental anxiety, let us know and our Arvada endodontics team will use a stronger sedation method. Don’t forget to follow our post-op instructions to help alleviate any pain you feel after the anesthesia wears off.

On rare occasions, teeth that have gone through endodontic treatment may fail to heal properly, or pain may persist. If this is the case, call our office immediately and we will schedule you for endodontic retreatment.

Improper healing can be caused by:

• Canals not treated during the initial procedure
• Crown or restoration not being placed within the appropriate time period following the procedure
• An improper seal on a crown or restoration that allowed saliva to recontaminate the tooth

Prior to beginning endodontic retreatment, Arvada root canal specialist Dr. Paguio will again diagnose the issue to provide you with a personalized treatment plan. During the procedure, the infected tooth is reopened and the original restorative material is removed. Dr. Paguio will thoroughly clean out all root canals and carefully examine the inside of the tooth for any other issues. Once the inside of the tooth and canals have been thoroughly cleaned, they will be filled and sealed again. Return to your general dentist as soon as possible to have a new crown or restoration placed.

Upon diagnosis of your pain, endodontist in Arvada, Dr. Paguio, may find that root canal therapy may not be enough to heal your tooth and suggest an apicoectomy, or root canal surgery. Endodontic surgery can help Dr. Paguio find hidden fractures or root canals that didn’t appear on your X-rays. If the tooth’s root surface or the surrounding bone is damaged, this surgery can also help to save the tooth.

In an apicoectomy, an incision is made in the gum tissue, giving Dr. Paguio access to the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. He will remove the damaged tissue and the end of the root tip. To prevent reinfection, a root-end filling is placed, and then the gum is sutured. Over the next few months, the bone will naturally heal around the root, restoring full function to the tooth and relieving the pain.

If you’re experiencing pain with chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold, or other types of pain, you may have a cracked tooth. If a tooth is cracked, motions such as chewing and biting can cause the cracked pieces to rub and the pulp to become inflamed. Eventually, the pulp becomes damaged or even infected.

There are a variety of types of tooth cracks, including craze lines that only affect the outer enamel, a crack that starts at the surface and extends down toward the root, a split tooth whose crack extends below the gum line, and more. If Arvada dentist Dr. Paguio finds a crack in your tooth that is causing you pain, root canal treatment or surgery may be recommended.

Injury to the face or mouth can cause serious problems for your teeth. Teeth can become dislodged or loose, pushed back into their sockets, or they can be completely knocked out. If this happens, endodontist in Arvada Dr. Paguio can help stabilize the tooth, get it back into its socket properly, and restore function.

If your tooth is knocked out, it is important that you seek treatment immediately. Keep the tooth moist and place it back in the socket, if you can. If you cannot replace it, put it in a glass of milk or water (add a pinch of salt to the water). Once you’re in the office, Dr. Paguio will examine the tooth’s root structure and may recommend an immediate root canal to save your natural tooth.