What should my root canal look like?

What is my root canal supposed to loo like when it's done?

Ask your dentist to show you the before and after pictures.

Here is a case that I did last week. 

The tooth on the left needs a root canal. 

The black line running through the middle of the tooth

represents the "canal" that runs through the middle of the "root".

Thus a "root" "canal".

In order for a root canal to have the best chance of succeeding

the ENTIRE canal needs to be cleaned out. 

Meaning 360 degrees and all the way to the end of the root.

Below you will see the finished product.

Now, is this "perfect"? 

I am not saying that. I am sure there is always room for improvement.

But, I do like what I see here.

The filling material is all the way to the end of the root. 

There is even just a little out the end, which is great 

(if it weren't do you think I would put it out there for the world to see)?

The filled canal also looks a tad larger then the original, which 

shows that cleaning and shaping took place.

The final filling also has no large voids in it. 

Now some of this may be total Greek to some of you. 

But the take home point is to make sure that the filling material

looks solid and that it is all the way to the end of the tooth.

It is your right, as a patient, to see the after pictures of any procedure. 

Take control of your own health. 

Make sure you are happy with your results. 

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What Kind of Cosmetic Outcome is possible in Ogden Utah?

• So, what is possible in dentistry?
• Once something has gone so far can you bring it back to what it was?

Here is a wonderful case to look at that. We will call this patient Mrs. Corey to protect her identity. Mrs. Corey is wanting to get her teeth back to the way the used to be.

Here is a BEFORE picture of one of Mrs. Corey's molars.

• Nothing too bad. 
• Old metal filling.
• Some cracks starting in the enamel. 
• And, possible new decay starting in a few spots.

And, here is the AFTER picture.

• A brand new zirconia crown. 
• No more metal look. 
• The risk of fracture is now less.  
• And the patient loves the look.

Dr. Jim Ellis, DDS
1220 33rd Street Suite C
Ogden, UT 84403
(801) 783-3490

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SOURCE: http://www.bestogdendentist.com/2013/04/what-kind-cosmetic-outcome-possible-ogden-utah/

Ogden Dentist: When do Adult Teeth form?

I get asked this a lot. The answer to this question is that adult teeth form very early on in life. This is why the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends fluoride at an early age.

In the picture below, you will see the side view of a child’s skull. I would estimate this child to be about 3 years old, give or take. Some of the jaw bone has been removed to show the adult teeth developing. As you can see, the crowns of the adult teeth have already been formed. Even the 12 year molar (the last tooth visible) has formed most of its crown and it wouldn't have come into this person’s mouth for another 9 years!

Moral of the story is that ...

It’s never too soon to start thinking about your children’s adult teeth. Get them fluoride early and continue it until the dentist advises you to stop.

Dr. Jim Ellis, DDS
1220 33rd Street Suite C
Ogden, UT 84403
(801) 783-3490

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SOURCE: http://www.bestogdendentist.com/2013/01/when-do-adult-teeth-form/

Its just a little spot.

We will call this young man Mr. K

Mr. K thought he saw a small discoloration on one of his teeth.

Here is what he saw.

Doesn't look too bad...... right?

This is Mr K's tooth after we dug out all of the cavity.

In some instances a little color is just a little cavity.

But in others a little color can lead to a big cavity.

That's just it. There is no way for you to tell. 

That is why at the soonest sign of any color change

in any of your teeth you need to get in to see your dentist.

Now lest you think all is lost for poor old Mr. K, do not fear.

Below is a picture of the finished product.

We got him all fixed up and he will be back to full speed in no time.

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What is a "dry socket"?

The term Dry Socket is one of the most feared, 

and most misunderstood, in the field of dentistry.

Whenever we take out wisdom teeth people will 

often ask if they are going to get dry socket.

Dry socket is very simple to understand.

After a tooth is pulled out of the jaw

 the surrounding tissues will begin to bleed.

This is a very good thing.

The blood will fill the socket, where the tooth used to be, 

and a blood clot will begin to form.

A blood clot in a socket is kind of like a scab over a cut.

It serves to protect the injured areas until healing can complete.

A dry socket will occur when, for whatever reason, 

the blood clot comes out.

If the blood clot comes out then the bone of the socket

will dry out. Thus, Dry Socket.

Dry bone is very painful bone.

It is most assuredly something to be avoided.

Tomorrow we will discuss how to avoid dry socket and how it is treated.

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