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Endodontics / Root Canal Therapy

Endodontics / Root Canal Therapy

Whether your pet is experiencing pain or is at risk of infection, understanding the options available for treating non-vital teeth is crucial for ensuring their well-being.

Non-vital teeth, like in humans, can cause discomfort and pain in our pets. Recognizing the signs of oral pain is essential, and addressing the source of discomfort becomes imperative.

Beyond the pain, non-vital teeth often harbor infections that can lead to serious complications, such as localized facial swelling. There are various causes of non-vital teeth, including fractures, endodontic disease, and irreversible pulpitis. Understanding the potential consequences of untreated infections emphasizes the importance of timely intervention.

Treatment Options – Extraction vs. Root Canal Therapy
When it comes to addressing non-vital teeth, there are two primary treatment options: extraction or root canal therapy. By presenting comprehensive information, pet owners can make informed decisions about the best course of action for their companions.

Root Canal Therapy for Dogs or Cats

Root canal therapy involves removing the infected and painful pulp and disinfecting the entire pulp canal. The space is then filled with a dental filling and sealing material followed by a composite restoration. This removes the source of pain and infection and deprives bacteria and inflammation of a place to grow.

Becoming proficient at root canal therapy requires extensive training. These procedures are some of the more detailed and nuanced surgeries we perform, but carry an excellent prognosis and almost always last the lifetime of the dog or cat.

Root canal treatment is more comfortable than surgical extraction and allows the patient to keep a tooth that would otherwise be extracted. While extraction is not a wrong treatment choice for a tooth with a dead and infected pulp, it involves surgical incisions and removal of surrounding bone and significantly more post-operative pain. This can be avoided with root canal therapy and allows the patient to keep the structure and function of their tooth.

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