Dental trauma can impact teeth, gums, and supporting bone. The good news is that timely care from a root canal specialist or endodontist helps preserve natural teeth and comfort. Specialized training in diagnosing pain and saving injured teeth positions these dental providers to act quickly and decisively. Clear evaluation, targeted treatment, and careful follow-up form a dependable plan that restores smile health and function while protecting stability.
Dental trauma includes any injury to teeth and surrounding tissues. Common causes involve sports collisions, falls, cycling accidents, and hard food bites that exceed normal chewing forces. Examples of dental trauma include:
Early recognition matters because some injuries look minor but threaten the long-term health of the tooth. Temperature sensitivity, sudden pain, or persistent discomfort can indicate inflammation within the tooth. Swelling near the root tip, a loosened bite, or a color change may also indicate deeper issues. Consult a root canal specialist or endodontist about these symptoms to ensure targeted care over temporary fixes.
Endodontists focus on saving teeth that have sustained dental trauma. A visit will start with a clear history of the incident, a clinical exam, and imaging. This comprehensive view guides treatment decisions. Here are three common ways an endodontist may treat dental trauma:
When dental trauma causes irreversible pulp inflammation or necrosis, root canal therapy removes infected or inflamed tissue and seals the canal system. During this procedure, the endodontist cleans and sanitizes the canals to save the tooth. If it is necessary to remove a substantial portion of the tooth, they will likely recommend a dental crown to rebuild it. A well-crafted crown makes the tooth usable and protects it from re-injury.
Retreatment offers a second chance to save a tooth after dental trauma. Sometimes a lingering infection, a hidden canal, or a leaky filling or crown can upset earlier treatment. Retreatment fixes this by reopening the tooth, removing the old materials, and carefully cleaning the root canals again. After thorough disinfection and a fresh, well-sealed filling inside the roots, symptoms often improve as the bone at the tip of the root can finally heal.
Certain injuries or persistent infections require surgical precision. Apicoectomy, the most common endodontic surgery, removes a small portion of the root tip and any inflamed tissue. The endodontist then places a biocompatible root-end filling to seal the canal from the tip. This approach is valuable when complex canal branches or obstructed pathways prevent complete cleaning from inside the tooth. An endodontist can discuss other options, as well.
Dental trauma does not have to compromise an otherwise healthy smile. Treatment from a root canal specialist or endodontist allows injured teeth to remain strong, comfortable, and functional for years. For treatment or to learn more, reach out to our team at Palisades Endodontics and Dental Implant Center today.
Request an appointment here: https://www.palisades-endo.com or call Palisades Endodontics and Dental Implant Center at (201) 877-1190 for an appointment in our Fort Lee office.
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