Root Canal Second Opinions & Alternatives
How we diagnose when a root canal is necessary
Every case we treat at Alleman Dental starts with testing for vitality, to see if the tooth’s nerve (called the pulp) is healthy. We test for vitality by applying cold air to the tooth, in addition to noting any symptoms a patient has experienced. Understanding the health of the pulp will help guide treatment considerations for the tooth.
Every tooth has a nerve, called the pulp, shown here in red.
When you should get a second opinion for root canal therapy
If your tooth is still experiencing symptoms, this indicates the tooth may still be vital and you should seek a second opinion. Many dentists will recommend root canal therapy for vital teeth with deep caries or cracks when they lack bonding protocols that allow the nerve to heal after treating deep pathologies. The biomimetic bonding protocols we use at Alleman Dental can seal the pulp and give it a chance to heal in many cases.
Despite a deep carious lesion, this vital tooth can be restored without a root canal with biomimetic restorative dentistry.
Case by Dr. Davey Alleman, DMD.
Cases that require root canal therapy
For teeth with a history of pain that has stopped, especially if the stop of symptoms was sudden, the pulp may have died from infection. In these cases we recommend root canal therapy to stop larger abscesses from forming. After the root canal is complete, biomimetic protocols can still benefit non-vital teeth compared to a full coverage crown. The advanced adhesive techniques will support your remaining tooth structure, rather than removing it for a traditional crown.
Alternatives to root canal therapy
When a tooth is testing vital, even in cases of deep caries or cracks or on-going symptoms, biomimetic dentistry can give the pulp a chance to heal. The techniques of immediate dentin sealing and resin coating create a bond to your tooth at the nanometer level, sealing out bacteria from the pulp. This blocks reinfection, allowing the pulp to heal. Other causes of symptoms can include poor bonds to an existing restoration or cracks into dentin, which are both treated at Alleman Dental.
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