Please note we may not offer these treatments at our office. Contact (408) 377-5134 to learn more.
An Innovative Solution to Infected Root Canals
At Silicon Valley Smile Solutions, we explain the innovative solutions for preserving your natural teeth, including regenerative endodontic therapy — a modern alternative to traditional root canal treatment. This cutting-edge approach uses the power of stem cells, growth factors, and your body’s own healing ability to regenerate dental pulp tissue, restore the pulp–dentin complex, and promote continued root development.
Call our dental office in San Jose at (408) 377-5134 to discover if you’re a candidate for this revolutionary treatment. Whether you’re in San Jose, Campbell, Los Gatos, or Santa Clara, our San Jose dentist and experienced dental team can help you explore the best treatment option for your needs.
What Is Regenerative Endodontics?
Regenerative endodontic therapy (RET) represents a paradigm shift in treating necrotic immature teeth and infected root canal systems. Unlike traditional endodontic therapies that rely on inert materials to preserve structure, regenerative endodontics focuses on biologically restoring the pulp-dentin complex to revive vitality in non-vital teeth.
This revolutionary approach harnesses your body’s natural healing mechanisms, utilizing mesenchymal stem cells, dental pulp stem cells, and periodontal ligament stem cells to promote pulp regeneration and continued root development. Instead of simply cleaning and filling the root canal space, regenerative procedures aim to restore organized vital pulp tissue and achieve apical closure naturally.
How Regenerative Endodontics Works: The Science Behind Stem Cell Therapy
The regenerative endodontic treatment process involves:
- Tissue Engineering Approach: Our San Jose endodontist removes necrotic pulp tissue and introduces bioactive materials containing growth factors and endogenous stem cells into the root canal system.
- Stem Cell Survival & Differentiation: The procedure creates an environment where dental pulp cells can survive, differentiate, and form newly formed tissue, including blood vessels and the pulp-dentin complex.
- Natural Root Maturation: Unlike traditional root canal therapy, RET promotes further root development and root length increase, particularly beneficial for immature permanent teeth with open apices.
Key Benefits of Regenerative Endodontics Over Traditional Root Canal Therapy
This treatment offers superior outcomes for young permanent teeth compared to traditional root canals.
- Enhanced Success Rates: Clinical studies demonstrate that regenerative endodontic procedures achieve higher success rates than conventional endodontic treatment, especially for immature teeth with necrotic root canal systems.
- Reduced Treatment Failure Risk: By promoting organized vital pulp tissue formation, RET creates a biologically active root canal system that naturally resists future infections.
- Stronger Tooth Structure: Traditional root canal treatment often results in thin, fragile roots susceptible to fracture. Regenerative procedures encourage natural root development, creating stronger, more resilient teeth.
- Cost-Effective Long-Term Solution: While initial costs may exceed traditional treatments, regenerative endodontics can eliminate the need for future dental implants or complex restorative procedures.
- Biocompatible & Natural: This tissue engineering approach uses your body’s own healing mechanisms, minimizing the risk of adverse reactions while promoting natural tooth preservation.
Am I a Candidate for Regenerative Endodontic Treatment?
Our experienced San Jose dentist evaluates several factors to determine candidacy for regenerative procedures:
- Age Considerations: Patients under 18 typically achieve the best outcomes, as root development remains active during this period.
- Tooth Maturity Status: Immature permanent teeth with open apices respond most favorably to regenerative endodontic therapy.
- Pulp Tissue Condition: Teeth with some remaining vital pulp tissue provide essential growth factors and stem cells for successful tissue regeneration.
- Root Canal Anatomy: Teeth with intact coronal structure offer optimal protection for newly regenerated tissue.
- Overall Health Status: Patients with healthy immune systems experience better stem cell survival and tissue regeneration outcomes.
- Infection Management: Active infections must be controlled before initiating regenerative procedures to ensure optimal healing conditions.
The Regenerative Endodontic Process
Initial Consultation and Advanced Diagnostics
Our San Jose endodontist performs a comprehensive evaluation using state-of-the-art imaging to assess:
- Root canal system anatomy
- Extent of pulp necrosis
- Apical tissues condition
- Overall tooth structure integrity
Phase 1: Access & Thorough Disinfection
- Gentle Access: Precise opening creation to reach the pulp chamber while preserving maximum tooth structure.
- Advanced Cleaning Protocol: Complete removal of necrotic pulp tissue and thorough disinfection using specialized antimicrobial solutions, sometimes including triple antibiotic paste for optimal bacterial elimination.
Phase 2: Regenerative Material Placement
- Stem Cell Introduction: Strategic placement of bioactive materials containing growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor, to stimulate cell differentiation and tissue regeneration.
- Blood Clot Formation: Creation of a natural scaffold using the patient’s own blood to support new tissue growth within the root canal space.
Phase 3: Protective Restoration
- Temporary Restoration: Secure sealing to protect the regenerating tissue while allowing for continued root development.
- Progress Monitoring: Regular follow-up appointments to assess tissue regeneration, root maturation, and overall treatment success.
Phase 4: Long-Term Follow-Up Care
Our San Jose dental team monitors:
- Pulp tissue regeneration progress
- Root length development
- Absence of tooth discoloration
- Prevention of root resorption
- Overall endodontic treatment success
Comparison of Regenerative Endodontics and Traditional Root Canal Therapy
- Approach: Regenerative endodontics focuses on the regeneration of biological tissue, whereas traditional root canals involve mechanical cleaning and filling of the tooth.
- Best For: Regenerative endodontics is ideal for immature permanent teeth, while traditional root canals are suitable for mature teeth with closed apices.
- Root Development: Regenerative endodontics encourages continued root growth, while further development in traditional root canals is limited.
- Long-term Strength: Regenerative endodontics results in stronger, naturally developed roots, while traditional root canals may lead to brittle roots.
- Success Rate: Regenerative endodontics has a higher success rate for immature teeth, whereas traditional root canals have an established success rate for mature teeth.
- Treatment Time: Regenerative endodontics typically requires multiple appointments over several months, while traditional root canals usually involve one to three appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
While regenerative endodontics shows remarkable promise for treating necrotic immature teeth, several factors may limit treatment success:
- Patient age restrictions: Optimal results occur in patients under 18 with active root development
- Pulp tissue condition: A severely damaged pulp-dentin complex may limit regenerative potential
- Complex root canal anatomy: Unusual root configurations can complicate treatment protocols
- Limited long-term data: As a newer technique, extensive long-term studies are still emerging
- Treatment complexity: Requires specialized expertise in regenerative medicine techniques
Regenerative endodontic procedures typically require multiple appointments spanning six to 12 months. Treatment duration depends on the severity of pulp necrosis, the patient’s age and healing capacity, the root development stage, and the individual tissue regeneration response.
Insurance coverage varies significantly between providers and individual policies. Many plans may cover traditional root canal therapy, but have limited coverage for regenerative procedures. We recommend contacting your insurance provider directly, discussing coverage options during your consultation, and exploring alternative payment arrangements if needed.
Yes! Successfully regenerated teeth can function naturally for many years, potentially eliminating the need for tooth extraction and dental implant placement. This is particularly valuable for young patients who would otherwise face a lifetime of implant maintenance.
Schedule Your Regenerative Endodontics Consultation in San Jose Today
Ready to explore whether regenerative endodontic therapy is right for you or your child? Our San Jose dental practice combines cutting-edge regenerative medicine with compassionate patient care to deliver outstanding treatment outcomes.
Contact Silicon Valley Smile Solutions at (408) 377-5134 to schedule your comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Amir HagShenas. We proudly serve patients from San Jose, Campbell, Los Gatos, Santa Clara, and throughout the South Bay area.