Financing Options
Care Credit can help you pay for treatments and procedures if you do not have dental insurance or that your insurance may not cover. We can help you with the application in our office.
Root canals are tiny passageways that branch off from beneath the top of the tooth, coursing their way vertically downward, until they reach the tip of the root.
All teeth have between one and four root canals.
Rooth canal therapy is recommended when a tooth becomes infected and is a remarkable treatment with a very high success rate. It involves removing the diseased tissue, halting the spread of infection and restoring the healthy portion of the tooth. In fact, a root canal is designed to save a problem tooth. Before the procedure was developed and gained acceptance, the only alternative for treating a diseased tooth was an extraction.
If you were told you needed a root canal, the procedure usually entails one to two visits. During the first visit, a hole is drilled through the top of the tooth and into the inner chamber (the 'canal'). The diseased tissue is removed, the canal is cleansed and disinfected, and the tiny canals are reshaped. The cleansed chamber and canals are filled with an elastic material and medication designed to prevent infection. If necessary, the drilled hole is temporarily filled until a permanent seal is made with a crown.
Most patients who have root canals experience little or no discomfort or pain and go on to enjoy a restored tooth that can last almost as long as its healthy original state.
Before development of dental implants, dentures were the only alternative to replacing a missing tooth or teeth.
Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures.
Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant, however. For a successful implant to take hold, a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene.
Implants are so well designed that they mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Implants are usually made of a synthetic yet biocompatible material like metal or ceramic.
Surgery is necessary to prepare the area for an implant and place the implant in the mouth. Following the procedure, a period of time is required for the implant to take hold and for bone tissue to build up and anchor the device. In some cases, metal posts are inserted into the implant during a follow-up procedure to connect the tooth.
Because implants require surgery, patients are administered anesthesia and, if necessary, antibiotics to stave off infection following the procedure.
Like any restoration, implants require diligent oral hygiene and proper care to ensure they last a long time.