There may be times when more extensive procedures, such as root canals or dental implants, must be performed to restore your smile. While these procedures often receive a painful or unpleasant reputation, Associates in Dentistry works to make you as comfortable and at ease as possible.
One of the first steps in this process is making sure you understand what the treatment entails. Please review the information below or call an office near you for more information.
Root canal treatment (endodontia) allows diseased teeth to be saved. Inside each tooth is a soft tissue called the pulp. This tissue provides the blood and nerve supply to the tooth. If the pulp becomes infected or injured, it cannot repair itself and it dies. Untreated, this often leads to the loss of the tooth. Root canal treatment consists of the dentist removing the diseased pulp tissue, cleaning and filling the root. After treatment, a crown is normally placed over the tooth for strength and protection.
Dental implants are another great option for replacing missing teeth. Unlike bridges and crowns, dental implants surgically replace not only the tooth, but the roots as well. While this option may seem more extreme, implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework because they don’t rely on the neighboring teeth for support. Dental implants can even be used as an alternate to dentures—giving you a strong, natural smile.
For teeth that cannot be saved, oral surgery is sometimes necessary. Teeth are extracted or removed for a number of reasons. This includes severe decay, advanced gum disease, and teeth that are broken beyond repair. Teeth are also sometimes removed because they are positioned in the mouth inappropriately such as impacted wisdom teeth or in preparation for orthodontic treatment.
Whatever your case may be, our Family Dental Centers offer routine and surgical extractions as well as other minor surgical procedures you may need to have done. Please note, some cases may need to be coordinated with an Oral Surgeon.
