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Before & After Photos
Actual Patient. Individual results may vary from patient to patient.
Actual Patient. Individual results may vary from patient to patient.
Actual Patient. Individual results may vary from patient to patient.
Miami Root Canal Dentist Dr. Ramon Bana
Each year, millions of people save their natural teeth with root canal therapy. Ramon Bana, DDS, is a top cosmetic dentist and licensed in sedation dentistry who performs root canal therapy at his state-of-the=art office in Miami.
What Is a Root Canal?
Root canal therapy is an endodontic procedure that involves the removal of an infected tooth’s pulp and decay, and then restoring the portion of the tooth that remains.
The Anatomy of a Tooth
Even though the teeth look and feel solid from the inside out, this is not the case.
The Enamel
The tooth’s outer layer is the enamel. Since the enamel is hard, it protects the entire structure of the tooth. However, if the enamel becomes compromised by injury or decay, it is unable to protect the inner layers of the tooth.
The Dentin
Underneath the enamel is dentin. This layer is softer than the enamel. Dentin protects the pulp. When the enamel and dentin both sustain damage or decay, they are unable to protect the pulp.
The Pulp
The pulp is the innermost layer of the tooth. Pulp houses specialized cells, connective tissue, as well as a network of blood vessels and nerves. Since this is where the nerves are, pulp infections are extremely painful.
Once the pulp of a tooth becomes infected or sustains damage, an experienced dentist in Miami must perform a root canal to restore the tooth.
What Is the Role of Tooth Pulp?
During tooth development, the pulp provides the nutrition necessary to help the teeth grow. Once fully developed, the pulp ensures the dentin remains healthy by continuing to provide it with nutrients.
Early Signs of Pulp Infection
There are some early signs that indicate a tooth has inflamed or infected pulp.
Potential signs of compromised pulp:
- Pain while biting or chewing.
- Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold.
- Pain when touching the tooth.
- Swollen gingival tissue (aka gums) around the affected tooth.
- A pimple-like lump on the gingival tissue above the tooth.
- A cracked or chipped tooth.
- Gingival tissue that looks darker than usual.
- Gums bleeding while brushing.
- Constant, excruciating pain.
When May a Dentist in Miami Recommend a Root Canal?
If a patient is experiencing pain due to inflammation or an infection in the pulp of a tooth, Dr. Ramon Bana recommends a root canal.
What Happens if a Pulp Infection Is Left Untreated?
As time passes, the tooth dies. A disruption in the blood supply to the tooth causes its color to change. Potential colors range from gray to brown. The tooth may eventually turn black. If this discolored tooth is visible to others, an individual may begin to feel self-conscious about his or her smile. Furthermore, a dead tooth negatively affects an individual’s oral health.
A dead tooth with an abscess causes pain when the individual puts any type of pressure on it. There may also be inflammation or bleeding present. If a tooth reaches this point, the individual may eventually need to seek emergency dental care.
Is a Miami Root Canal Treatment Painful?
There are numerous misconceptions surrounding root canal therapy, which is why a stigma is associated with this treatment. These myths focus on the discomfort and pain patients feel during this endodontic procedure, however, for the most part, these claims are exaggerations.
While performing root canals, Dr. Bana ensures his patients are comfortable by numbing the treatment area. Although a patient may experience slight discomfort, he or she does not feel pain.
Following a Miami root canal treatment, a patient may experience some pain and discomfort. This pain subsides within 48 hours of the treatment. Patients typically return to their normal activities within two or three days. The pain an individual experiences when a tooth is infected is typically much more severe than the discomfort he or she may feel during and after a Miami root canal.
Sedation Dentistry Is Available at Dr. Bana’s Office in Miami
Ramon Bana, DDS, understands that some patients are apprehensive about receiving dental treatment. He wants his patients to feel comfortable during their dental procedures, which is why he is licensed in sedation dentistry. Dr. Ramon Bana offers his patients three different types of sedation.
1. Nitrous Oxide (aka Laughing Gas)
Most people are good candidates for nitrous oxide. One benefit of laughing gas is that patients do not need to bring a driver with them because this form of sedation exits the system quickly.
2. Oral Sedation
Patients who choose oral sedation receive a prescription for a sedative. About an hour before the procedure, the patient takes the medication.
Oral sedation relaxes a patient, making him or her feel drowsy. Some patients fall into a light sleep during their dental procedure. A patient who receives this form of sedation usually remembers very little about the dental procedure. Patients who choose oral sedation need someone to drive them to and from Dr. Bana’s Miami office.
3. Intravenous Sedation
Intravenous sedation is also known as IV sedation or twilight anesthesia. Patients receiving this type of sedation need to fast for at least 6 hours before their scheduled appointment time.
IV sedation involves the medication flowing through a catheter and into the patient’s vein. As soon as the medication enters the bloodstream, it begins to take effect.
Patients receiving intravenous sedation frequently doze off during their procedure. After receiving twilight anesthesia, patients will feel groggy. Therefore, Ramon Bana, DDS, recommends that they rest the remainder of the day. Patients who receive intravenous sedation do need to bring a driver with them.
Dr. Ramon Bana’s For-Hire Transportation Policy
After receiving oral or intravenous sedation, patients remain drowsy for some time. Therefore, because he and his team care about their patients, Dr. Bana prohibits patients who receive these types of anesthesia from using any form of for-hire transportation after their procedures.
An Initial Consultation for a Root Canal in Miami
During this appointment, patients need to provide Dr. Ramon Bana with a detailed medical and dental history. If the patient takes medications, herbal supplements or vitamins regularly, let Dr. Bana know. He needs to know because some of these products can cause excess bleeding. Patients should expect Ramon Bana, DDS, to examine their mouth. He may also take X-rays or digital images.
Patients Receive Personalized Treatment Plans in Miami
Since each patient is unique, Dr. Bana takes the time to create custom-designed treatment plans. Once the patient schedules his or her root canal procedure, Dr. Ramon Bana creates the plan and then discusses it with the patient.
A General Overview of a Miami Root Canal
Patients who receive medication to help them relax during their procedure must follow the presurgical instructions they receive.
Once the patient feels relaxed, Dr. Bana uses local anesthesia to numb the treatment area. After administering the local anesthesia, he waits a few minutes for the medication to take effect.
Although the patient’s mouth remains open throughout the procedure, Ramon Bana, DDS, uses a dental dam to prevent saliva from contaminating the tooth receiving treatment. This dental dam also ensures that debris from the tooth (e.g., decay, pulp) does not fall into the patient’s mouth during treatment.
Once the dam is in place, the only tooth exposed through the rubber membrane is the one Dr. Bana is treating.
If the tooth receiving treatment has an abscess, Dr. Ramon Bana drains it.
Accessing the Pulp During a Miami Root Canal
Using a specific dental drill, Dr. Bana creates a tiny hole in the tooth. The location of this hole depends on the type of tooth receiving treatment. Ramon Bana, DDS, creates a tiny hole on the back side of a front tooth, and he creates a hole on top of the tooth when performing a root canal on premolars or molars.
Extracting the Pulp and Clearing Decay
Using small files, Dr. Bana carefully extracts the dental pulp from the canals and pulp chamber. He also clears away any infected material that is present. Since the tooth’s canals are curved and thin, this procedure can be challenging. For a restoration to be successful, the dentist must clear away all this material, which is why choosing a dentist with experience performing root canals in Miami is vital.
Why Does a Dentist Remove the Tooth’s Pulp During a Root Canal in Miami?
Although a dentist could just use antibiotics to treat the current infection, there is no way to rehabilitate the pulp. As such, unless the dentist removes the pulp, the infection will return over and over again.
Cleaning, Shaping and Irrigating the Canals
Once Dr. Ramon Bana removes the pulp and decay, he shapes the canals.
Dr. Bana uses a syringe that contains a special antibacterial liquid mixed with sterile water to irrigate the canals. He drains the canals and performs this irrigation process several times.
Filling, Setting and Sealing the Canals
The cement Dr. Ramon Bana uses to fill the patient’s canals is gutta-percha. He sets the gutta-percha using heat. The gutta-percha conforms to the shape of the canals.
Dr. Bana takes great care to make sure that the cement completely solidifies before he uses an adhesive dental cement to seal the canals.
Addressing the Top of the Tooth During a Miami Root Canal
Ramon Bana, DDS, uses the traditional tooth-colored filling to seal the top of the tooth. He matches this filling to the color of the patient’s tooth.
When Does a Patient Need a Crown?
If the portion of natural tooth that remains is weak or Dr. Ramon Bana performs a root canal on a molar, the patient usually needs a dental crown. The crown provides support to the tooth, ensuring that it can withstand the pressure placed upon it during the chewing process.
What Are Crowns Made Of?
Crowns can consist of a variety of materials (e.g., zirconia, resin or porcelain). Dr. Bana prefers to use tooth-colored crowns consisting of porcelain. He prefers porcelain because it closely resembles the look of a natural tooth. In addition, crowns made from porcelain are very durable, providing the patient with long-lasting dental restoration results.
On-Site Dental Crown Creation in Miami
The acronym CEREC® stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. With CEREC® technology, Ramon Bana, DDS, can create his patients’ crowns on site.
The first thing Dr. Bana does to create a patient’s crown is capture digital images of the root canal treatment site and the teeth on either side of it. These images provide the milling machine with a 3D digital impression of the treatment area.
The milling machine uses this 3D impression and a block of porcelain to create the patient’s custom-designed dental crown.
To make the crown look natural, its color matches the patient’s other teeth. Once Dr. Ramon Bana is happy with the look and fit of the crown, he places it.
Placing the Patient’s Custom-Designed Crown
Dr. Bana uses a permanent dental cement to affix the patient’s crown over the remaining natural tooth.
What Are Root Canal Posts?
If Dr. Ramon Bana removes more than half of a patient’s natural tooth, he places posts inside the canals. These posts provide support for the dental crown and the restoration core.
What Happens If a Patient Has an Active Pulp Infection?
Dr. Bana can remove the pulp and clean the canals. However, due to the infection, he has to coat the tooth and its canals with medication. This medication remains in the canals and on the tooth until the patient’s next visit. During this follow-up visit, he completes the patient’s root canal procedure.
What To Expect While Recovering From a Miami Root Canal
The patient’s tooth should no longer be sensitive to hot and cold. Nonetheless, soreness is likely. This symptom may last a few days.
Patients should avoid biting into and chewing hard foods (e.g., apples, candy and ice).
If necessary, patients can use over-the-counter pain medications (e.g., ibuprofen). However, if a patient is taking pain medication and continues to experience pain or inflammation, he or she needs to call Dr. Ramon Bana’s Miami office at 305-857-3731.
Are There Any Risks Associated With the Root Canal Procedure?
As long as an experienced dentist performs this endodontic treatment, the risks of a complication are extremely low. Nonetheless, potential risks must always be considered.
Potential risks:
- Changes in the color of the tooth.
- For several weeks after surgery, an individual may experience sinus congestion.
- The development of another infection in the same tooth.
- The natural tooth cracks.
- Facial numbness due to nerve disruption. This symptom usually subsides within a few weeks.
- An allergy to one of the medications the patient receives.
Why People Choose Ramon Bana, DDS, To Perform Their Procedures
Dr. Bana is one of the top cosmetic dentists in the Miami area. Since he is also licensed in sedation dentistry, Dr. Ramon Bana can provide medications to help his patients feel comfortable during their dental procedures. Furthermore, Dr. Bana and his staff provide patients with high-quality cosmetic, restorative and general dental care.
How Much Does a Root Canal in Miami Cost?
Since Ramon Bana, DDS, creates each of his patients a personalized treatment plan, he must examine the individual before he can quote a price for treatment.
Will Dental Insurance Cover a Miami Root Canal?
Most dental insurance companies cover root canal treatment. However, individuals should contact their insurance company and ask about their particular coverage. In addition, an individual who plans to receive a crown may want to ask about insurance coverage for that procedure as well.
Ramon Bana, DDS, and his team have an unwavering dedication to providing each patient with the highest quality of care. They accomplish this by using innovative dental techniques and state-of-the-art equipment, providing anxiety relief through sedation dentistry along with a comfortable environment of friendly, caring professionals. If you are in or near Miami and need dental care of any kind, including a root canal, contact Dr. Ramon Bana’s office today at 305-857-3731. The office address is 2461 Coral Way in Miami.
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