New Nanodiamonds Will Be a Tooth’s Best Friend
Nanodiamond compound to help make root canals even more successful
When you think of diamonds and dental work, you probably immediately think of gold teeth studded with a bit of extra bling. But thanks to the development of a new nanodiamond compound for use in root canal therapy, it turns out that diamonds in teeth could soon be a whole lot more practical, understated, and widespread than you might think.
The purpose of a root canal is to remove decayed and infected material from inside a tooth, right down to the roots if needed. The tooth must then be filled back up with an inert material to replace the missing roots and pulp and stabilize the tooth.
Traditionally, the inert material used to fill teeth in a root canal is a rubber compound called gutta percha. While this material has been used successfully in countless root canals, in a small percentage of cases the patient ends up having the tooth become reinfected. Then, the root canal must be redone or the tooth must be extracted. Typically, reinfection occurs due to poor oral hygiene on the part of the patient.
Because nanodiamonds are strong and can be modified with antimicrobial compounds like amoxicillin, adding them to the gutta percha can help prevent reinfection. In lab tests, researchers have found that their new nanodiamond compound was stronger than plain gutta percha and was effective in killing Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria commonly associated with root canal reinfections.
What Else is Needed for a Successful Root Canal?
Nanodiamond compounds are just the latest advance in a series of improvements that have made today’s root canals far more comfortable and more successful than they were in past decades.
If you want to enjoy a top-notch root canal, you will obviously want to make sure that your dentist is highly skilled and experienced with this procedure. You may also want to inquire if they use the following technology:
Digital x-rays: X-rays are needed to locate damaged tooth material. With digital x-rays that deliver an instant picture of the tooth, the dentist can check their progress easily during the procedure.
Apex locator: One of the major challenges in a root canal is cleaning and filling all the tooth roots completely. If even one twist or turn is not fully cleaned, it could pose a risk of reinfection. An apex locator is one tool that can be used to accurately pinpoint the end of the root.
New files or lasers: In the past, infected material was removed from the tooth using stainless steel files. These files were not very flexible and were prone to breaking. New nickel titanium files are much more flexible and allow the dentist to clean more thoroughly. Lasers work even better for removing decayed material and also have the advantage of promoting faster healing.
Consult an Expert Dentist Today
If you suspect you might need a root canal, come visit us at California Dental Group. We have several dentists who specialize in root canal therapy who will be happy to help you.
