The root canal visit has been made much easier for both the patient and the dentist by today's dental techniques. New technologies have revolutionized the field of root canal dentistry, also called endodontics. Extensive tooth decay, an accident, tooth fracture, or gum disease can cause a tooth infection and kill a tooth. However, your teeth can be saved using root canal therapy. This field of dentistry is called because the prefix "endo- " means " inside" and the word ending "-dontics" means teeth", so endodontics has to do with treating the "inside of teeth". This allows dentists to save a tooth rather than use expensive full tooth dental restorations that are costly for the patient.
If you come to the Atlanta Dental Group PC for a root canal visit you will most likely see our root canal dentist, Dr. Jeffery Smith. He graduated from the Emory University School of Dentistry in 1983. Since Dr. S works primarily with root canals, he is comfortable with this procedure. He uses a high torque dental handpiece with titanium files to mechanically and rapidly open a canal as well as a sonar-like instrument that finds the exact end of the root. Digital x-rays also aid our dentists by reducing the time we have to wait for x-rays to be developed.
Many people do not completely know what goes on during a root canal visit. The inside of a tooth is like the inside of a tootsie roll pop. Inside every tooth crown is a hollow area that extends into each of the roots. During endodontic treatment each root canal is completely cleaned out and widened, then the root canal is filled with a rubber material called gutta percha and a crown is placed on the tooth. Root canal therapy can be unpredictable. There are times even after appropriate initial treatment that a tooth doesn't settle down. At the Atlanta Dental Group PC we prefer to enter a tooth after a patient has been on a dental antibiotic for 3 to 7 days, however, this can not always be done.
If you would like to learn more about what goes on during a root canal visit and would like to speak with a general dentist in the Atlanta area, consider the Atlanta Dental Group PC. Our Atlanta dentists have over 45 years of combined experience serving Atlanta's dental needs. They are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being and you are welcome to join our family of patients. If you would like schedule an free dental consultation appointment with Atlanta Dentist, Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky or with our root canal dentist, Dr. Jeffery Stephen Smith, call 404-874-7428 to make your appointment.