There are many reasons why a person may need to see a specialist for a root canal in Houston, even if it’s not exactly for a root canal. Some of the issues a person is seen for are fairly common and therefore known about; others are not as well known. Condensing osteitis is a condition that is not very well known. Here are some of the things people need to know about this condition.
What is Condensing Osteitis?
This is a periapical inflammatory disease. This means that it causes inflammation at the apex of the tooth, or the bottom most part of a tooth. This causes lesions to spread out at the apex of the tooth. These are radiopaque which means that they are opaque on an x-ray, which is how diagnosis can be determined. This leads to a bony reaction and is generally found on a non-vital tooth. There are generally no symptoms associated with this and often it is benign.
What Causes Condensing Osteitis?
This condition is the result of some sort of inflammatory stimulus. Most often this is seen with a periodontal infection. However, it can come from other forms of inflammation as well.
How to Treat Condensing Osteitis?
If a dentist informs a patient they have condensing osteitis the best thing they can do is to see an endodontist. Find one that is gentle and will provide excellent quality of care. The tooth will be examined to ensure that it is benign. They do this by looking at the pulp of the tooth to check the vitality, as well as to ensure the tooth is not inflamed or necrotic. If so, then an endodontist can treat the tooth. If the tooth is beyond treatment then it can be extracted.
The Prognosis for Condensing Osteitis?
The prognosis with this condition is actually very good. In most cases it does not even require treatment. Even if it does the treatment is successful. The worst outcome with this is a bone scar, also called osteosclerosis at the jaw line where the tooth was.