Endodontics treats the dental roots and the soft pulp inside teeth. Appropriate care will not only ease the pain of a toothache; it can also save even severely damaged teeth, preventing tooth loss and the need for further restorative care. Our dentists in Dallas, Drs. Shaun Sigurgdson and Mihir Patel, are committed to continuing education in the field of endodontics so that they can provide the best possible care. They also combine a compassionate chairside manner with the latest rotary tools, making treatment more comfortable and stress-free.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is the most common treatment option for infected teeth. During the procedure, your Lakewood dentist will remove any infected pulp from your tooth and root canals. He will then fill the tooth with a sealing material. Finally, he will place a custom crown, made from lifelike tooth-colored materials. Root canal therapy can restore your dental function, end discomfort, and prevent infection from spreading to other teeth and even to other parts of your body.
Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth can occur for a variety of reasons: sports injury, accident, biting down on something hard, or chronic teeth grinding. Treatment for a cracked tooth depends on the location and extent of the damage. A small crack often requires only a dental crown. When the crack extends to the tooth root, root canal therapy may be necessary. If the crack reaches below the gum line, it may not be possible to save the whole tooth. However, your dentist can recommend an appropriate restorative treatment, such as a bridge or dental implants.
Post and Core Treatment
Following root canal therapy, Dr. Sigurdson or Dr. Patel sometimes recommend post and core treatment to stabilize the dental crown. In these cases, they will place a post inside the root canal. They may also rebuild and reshape the core of the tooth, replacing the damaged pulp with composite or amalgam. Typically, our dentists only advise this procedure when a large portion of the tooth has been removed.
Pulp Capping
If you have extensive decay or dental damage, but it has not yet reached the soft inner pulp of your tooth, pulp capping may help you to avoid root canal therapy. During direct pulp capping, your dentist will remove any decayed tissue and place a protective barrier over the exposed dental pulp. Then he can place a filling or crown. Indirect pulp capping takes place when the pulp is close to the surface but not fully exposed. During this treatment, our dentists in Dallas coat the remaining dental tissue with a special material that will promote remineralization. Then they place a temporary filling. Several months later, they will evaluate the tooth and attach a permanent restoration.
Rotary Endodontics
Root canal therapy often has a reputation for being very unpleasant. However, modern methods have made the treatment much more efficient and virtually pain-free. Our dentists proudly use electronic rotary handpieces to perform endodontic treatment. These tools have a nickel-titanium tip, which is much more flexible than manual stainless steel instruments. This makes treatment faster and more accurate, limiting the impact on healthy tooth structure.
Contact a Lakewood Dentist for Gentle, Effective Care
If you are struggling with a toothache or significant dental damage, our endodontic treatment may save your tooth and eliminate discomfort. Learn more about our treatments and gentle methods when you contact Lakewood Dental Group. Schedule an appointment online or call our office at 214-827-1885.
