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Posts for tag: Root Canal

By John Baron DDS
February 01, 2019
Category: Root Canal
Tags: Root Canal  

Your natural teeth help you bite, chew, speak and look like you. If one is compromised by decay, accident or infection, should you extract it? Dr. John Baron, your Santa Cruz dentist, believes in saving as many natural teeth as possible. So, he offers a wide range of restorative treatments, including comfortable and precise root canal therapy. Also called endodontic therapy, a root canal can bring your tooth back to full health and functionality.

What is a root canal?

It's actually a part of your tooth. A root canal, or narrow chamber, runs down each and every tooth root--up to four in all for large teeth, such as molars. Filled with blood vessels, connective tissue and nerves, a root canal is subject to injury, decay and infection, jeopardizing the overall health of the tooth.

A root canal treatment, or endodontic therapy, performed in your Santa Cruz dentist's office, removes this diseased or injured pulp, disinfects the canal and seals the area with biocompatible gutta-percha. A temporary filling or crown protects the treated tooth while a trusted dental lab fashions a permanent porcelain crown. Dr. Baron places the crown when your tooth is fully healed--about a week or so after treatment.

When is a root canal needed?

Dental fracture, abscess or multiple restorations may endanger the health of a tooth. Sometimes, a patient cannot tell a tooth is infected or cracked. He or she truly exhibits no symptoms, says the American Association of Endodontists. That's why semi-annual visits to the dentist are so important.

Other sickly teeth, however, may show many symptoms they need root canal therapy. Symptoms include:

  • Enamel discoloration
  • A raised, red pimple on the gums
  • Foul-tasting drainage
  • Extreme and recurring dental sensitivity to heat, cold, pressure or sugary drinks or foods
  • An obvious crack or chip
  • Toothache

If you have some or all of these symptoms, please call Dr. Baron right away for an evaluation.

Caring for your restored tooth

After a root canal treatment and crown placement, your tooth may be a bit tender for a few days. Treat it gently with soft foods and careful brushing and flossing.

For the long-term, be diligent about your at-home oral hygiene, and see Dr. Baron twice a year for exams and cleanings. Your renewed tooth can last for many years.

Call us

If you suspect you have an oral health issue, such as an infected tooth, or if it's simply time for your routine check-up, please contact Dr. Baron's office at (831) 426-9200. Your smile can look great and feel really good, too.

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By E. John Baron DDS
January 05, 2018
Category: Dentistry
Tags: Root Canal  

If your dentist recommends a root canal, you may feel anxiety leading up to this simple and common procedure. However, there is no root canalreason to fear a root canal. Proven by many years of use to be effective and safe, a root canal can repair your decayed or damaged tooth and even save the tooth’s structure, avoiding extraction. Find out more about root canal therapy and how it can benefit you with Dr. John Baron in Santa Cruz, CA.

What does root canal therapy do? 
Root canals repair damaged or decayed teeth which would often otherwise require extraction. The tooth’s inner pulp chamber, which houses the nerves which allow the tooth to feel pain, becomes infected and, in turn, causes a toothache. The root canal clears the inner tooth of the damaged tissue and removes the root, eliminating the toothache. Removing the damaged tissue from inside the tooth preserves the tooth’s outer structure below the gumline, allowing the tooth to continue to stimulate the bone in which it lies and preventing extraction-related issues like shifting teeth or bone atrophy.

Do I need a root canal? 
If you have a toothache, there is a good chance your dentist will suggest a root canal. However, your dentist may also recommend a root canal to avoid a toothache or other complications in the future. If your dentist catches a problem early, a root canal may be necessary to correct the issue and avoid complications down the road. Root canal therapy can also help save a tooth which has been damaged by trauma or injury.

Root Canal Therapy in Santa Cruz, CA
Lowering your chances of requiring a root canal is as easy as keeping your teeth decay-free and healthy. This means a strong at-home oral care routine and regular trips to see your dentist for preventative routine dental examinations and cleanings. Brush twice daily and floss at least once to ensure that you remove decay-causing plaque from the teeth before it can harden into tartar and cause decay. See your dentist at least twice a year to catch dental problems early and keep your teeth in the best condition possible.

For more information on root canals, please contact Dr. John Baron in Santa Cruz, CA. Call (831) 426-9200 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Baron today!

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By E. John Baron DDS
November 02, 2016
Category: Dentistry
Tags: Root Canal   dental decay  

Find out how this simple treatment can go a long way to saving a tooth from irreparable damage.

No one wants to hear that they need a root canal. While a root canal may sound like a bad word, it is truly a great dental treatment thatroot canal can prevent a tooth from needing to be extracted (and I think everyone can agree that they don’t want to have to deal with having a permanent tooth removed). Find out more about getting a root canal in Santa Cruz, CA, from our very own dentist Dr. John Baron.

A little background about your upcoming root canal procedure in Santa Cruz, CA, is always helpful. Inside the tooth is a structure known as the dental pulp. The pulp contains nerves, tissue and blood vessels. You could say that the dental pulp is the feeling part of the tooth. When something is wrong, whether it’s severe decay or trauma, the pulp is the area of the tooth that sounds the alarm and causes you pain. Pain is a warning sign that something isn’t right with your tooth and that you need to seek immediate care.

But why do I need a root canal?

A root canal is necessary if the pulp has become infected or inflamed. While a toothache doesn’t always signify that you need a root canal, it can often be a telltale sign that you will need one. The purpose of a root canal is to remove the diseased tissue inside the tooth and protect the tooth from further damage (all while eliminating the source of your pain). A root canal is an important procedure because it can actually save the tooth.

Once the dental pulp has been removed and the inside of the tooth has been thoroughly disinfected, we will refill the inside of the tooth and seal up the root canal to prevent bacteria from reentering. Most of the time a tooth that has had root canal treatment will also require a dental crown to protect it from further damage and to make it 100 percent strong again.

Whether you have questions about a root canal or you just need to schedule your next routine visit, turn to our Santa Cruz, CA, dental office for all of your dental needs. We are here to give you a smile that you will always be proud of.

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By E.John Baron DDS INC.
September 09, 2014
Category: Dentistry

Keep decay away with these healthy tips.

When it comes to taking care of our smiles, prevention is key. Luckily, we have a host of different ways to protect our teeth from decay and infection. Whether you’re teaching your child to adopt hygienic habits or you’re looking to find the best ways to keep your smile cavity-free, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the tried and true ways to maintain a healthy smile.Local Dental Treatment
 

Your Diet Effects Your Teeth Too

Diet isn’t just important for maintaining healthy body weight. Obviously, what you put in your mouth affects your smile, too. Teeth can take quite a beating from sugar, starchy products and stain-producing drinks like dark sodas and tea. Limit these and load up on crunchy fruits and vegetables instead. Also, be sure to add fluoridated water, cheese, lean meats, nuts and milk to your diet. The calcium in milk helps to remineralize teeth.
 

Oral Care Instructions

While I’m sure you are an avid teeth brusher and flosser, you must keep up the hard work to maintain good oral health. This means brushing at least twice a day and flossing once a day. When you floss, make sure to gently guide the floss between your teeth. When the floss is at the gum line, make sure to curve it around one tooth and carefully slide it in the space between your gums and your tooth. This will guarantee that you get the most out of each daily flossing.
 
One rule patients tend to forget is that they should be brushing for at least 2 minutes. The best option is to divide your mouth into four different parts and spend about 30 seconds brushing each section.
 
Gentle reminder: When your bristles begin to fray, it’s time to throw your toothbrush away.
 

Protect Your Smile

Did you know that over 5 million teeth are partially dislodged each year? About 13 to 39 percent of those injuries are sports-related. If you play on a sports team it’s important to wear the proper gear. This means wearing helmets, facemasks and even mouthguards whenever you are on the field. If you’re having problems finding a guard that fits your teeth properly, talk to us about custom mouthguards.
 

Schedule Routine Checkups

You should be coming into the dentist’s office every six months for a cleaning and exam. If you already do, that’s great! If you haven’t been as good about keeping up with that, it’s OK. It’s never too late to start.
 
However, there are times that no matter how much effort we put into our smiles, decay still finds its way in. We understand that it can be defeating, but know that some of your dental problems could be genetic. If you’re dealing with an infection or widespread decay, we’ll most likely recommend getting root canal therapy in Santa Cruz. The name might sound intense, but it’s really not more invasive then getting a tooth filled.
 
Don’t shy away! If you need to setup your next dental visit or your root canal therapy in Santa Cruz, call our dental office today and take charge of your oral health!
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January 28, 2014
Category: Root Canal
Tags: Root Canal  

Dr. John Baron Gets to the Root of Root Canal Myths

 
You probably get a little anxious when thinking about dental procedures because you fear the thought of actually having a cavity.
 
Root Canal
If you missed a couple dental appointments and opted out of flossing and two-minute brushing, your oral hygiene habits and health probably aren’t up to par. Bad oral health is like a domino effect. If food particles and plaque bacteria aren’t properly removed, your enamel can start to break down, causing cavities. As bacteria continue to run its course, you can develop a dental infection. 
 
If an abscessed tooth (tooth infection) occurs, you need to remove it. To do this, we suggest root canal therapy. Santa Cruz residents, we know what you are thinking. A root canal is painful! Wouldn’t it be better to just pull the tooth? 
 
When it comes to root canal therapy, there are two common myths that many still believe in and Dr. John Baron can debunk.
 

Myth 1:  A root canal is painful

In a sense, this myth is correct. Pain can radiate through the root canals, but this doesn’t mean root canal therapy caused it. An abscessed tooth can be painful because the tooth’s pulp (nerve) becomes infected. This nerve branches out and continues down the tooth’s root through the canals. If you are experiencing pain, it’s truly before the root canal therapy—the procedure works to eliminate any pain the infection is causing you.
 

Myth 2: Extraction is better

Again, that is not entirely true. You want to preserve your natural tooth. Root canal therapy allows you to do just that. After removing the pulp, bacteria and debris, your dentist can prescribe antibiotics to fight infection. Afterwards, you will come in to have the tooth officially sealed. Thus, you don’t need to fret about finding a tooth replacement. However, if the infection is too severe, an extraction will be the better choice. It truly depends on what your dentist recommends for you.
 
To fight infection and save your tooth, root canal therapy gets to the root of the problem. And Dr. Baron gets to the root of root canal myths!
 
In Santa Cruz, root anal therapy is available at Dr. Baron’s dental practice. Call (831) 426-9200 for more information.
 
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October 09, 2013
Category: Root Canal

Alleviate your pain with Root Canal Therapy in Santa Cruz! 

 
We want our Santa Cruz patients to know about the treatment provided at our dental office. Previously, teeth with diseased or injured pulps were removed, but today root canal treatment saves many teeth while relieving pain.  Root canal therapy has a reputation for being painful and often introduces terrible images into many people’s minds, but, in reality, root canal therapy is not the main source of pain.  The bad reputation associated with root canals is caused by the fact that people exhibit pain from the infected tooth rather than the actual procedure. 
Root Canal Treatment Santa Cruz CA

So, What is Root Canal Therapy?

 
Your tooth is made up of a hard protective shell called enamel, a softer middle layer called dentin and a soft tissue inner layer called dental pulp.  Composed of nerve tissue, lymph tissue and blood vessels, the dental pulp is considered a vital part of your tooth.  If your dental pulp is severely damaged, the tooth begins to die.  Root canal therapy is often the best treatment to prevent and eliminate infection, thus preventing tooth loss and relieving the pain.  
 
Root canal therapy allows Dr. Baron, your dentist in Santa Cruz, to save your teeth in the safest way possible and is used to find the cause and treat the problems of the dental pulp.  The narrow channels beneath the pulp chamber in the inner part of your tooth are hollowed out and cleaned through root canal therapy and the roots are filled with materials that are designed to prevent pain and infection from recurring.  
 

Signs That You May Have an Infection

 
There are specific signs that may indicate you have an infected nerve or diseased tooth that would require a root canal, and Dr. E. John Baron, our dentist in Santa Cruz, CA, shares them with you:
  • Minimal to severe pain
  • Tooth discoloration
  • Swelling and irritation in the surrounding gum tissue
  • Signs of infection visible on a radiograph
As a patient in Santa Cruz, root canal therapy may also be necessary because your tooth will not heal by itself and without treatment the infection will spread.  Pain usually worsens until you are forced to seek emergency dental attention.  The only alternative to a root canal is to have your tooth extracted, which is never an option you would want to take.  Early detection is the best way to prevent serious dental damage, stop the pain and save your tooth.
 
At the initial onset of any pain or discomfort with your teeth, consult Dr. John Baron, your Santa Cruz dentist, to discuss your treatment options.  As your dentist, Dr. Baron can advise you on whether root canal therapy in Santa Cruz can help stop your pain and treat the infection. 
 

Are you experiencing pain in your mouth?  Schedule and appointment with Dr. John Baron today to find out if you need a root canal.

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E. John Baron DDS, INC.
550 Water Street, Suite L-1
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 426-9200

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