Oral Surgery & Extractions

Root Canal & Endodontic Treatment

Endodontic Treatment, commonly called Root Canal Therapy, is necessary when the pulp of the tooth, which contains the nerve and blood supply to the tooth, becomes diseased or damaged. When the pulp is infected, the diseased nerve can be removed through an opening in the top of the tooth. The inside of the tooth is cleaned with special instruments and medicines. When the tooth is free of infection, it can be filled with a material that will prevent bacteria from re-entering the tooth. This will allow the tooth to be rebuilt and give many more years of service.

Symptoms

Teeth that need root canal treatment do not all follow the same pattern. There can be a wide variation in the symptoms that will clue a patient to something not being right. Common symptoms are: sensitivity to hot temperatures in food and beverages, a feeling that a tooth is elevated slightly out of the socket so the teeth don’t fit together quite the same as they did before, swelling or a feeling that the tooth is slightly loose. There can be a dull aching in the general vicinity, or it can be very specific and easy to identify the offending tooth. If you are experiencing anything that seems abnormal for your mouth, have it checked out.

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Endodontic Treatment Information

Periodontal Surgery

When a patient’s periodontal condition requires soft tissue grafting or surgical intervention to improve the chances to maintain their teeth, we will most often refer to one of the excellent periodontal specialists we have worked with for many years.

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Home Care Following Periodontal Surgery

Wisdom Teeth Removal

When there is not enough room in a patient’s mouth for all 32 teeth that are normally present, we may recommend the removal of the third molars, commonly called wisdom teeth.

Often these teeth will not erupt at all or are positioned incorrectly due to lack of space. There may be swelling and discomfort in the area around these teeth. We may be able to remove them here, or we may refer to one of the oral surgeons we know and trust to do an excellent job.

Resources

Why Are They Called "Wisdom Teeth"?

Sedation

Occasionally we have patients who are extremely apprehensive of having dental treatment or even being in the dental office environment. We have become skilled in the use of oral sedative medications to make undergoing dental treatment easier for these patients and will prescribe one for them if this is appropriate for their situation.

We also use nitrous oxide in combination with oxygen as a relaxing agent, commonly known as laughing gas, to take the edge off for folks who are only moderately apprehensive about being in a dental office setting.