Snellville Endodontics

Root canal therapy is the removal of the pulp within a tooth, followed by filling it with an inert material. Typically, root canals are required when dental decay reaches the nerve of the tooth or if the tooth becomes infected. The number of canals in a tooth can vary, ranging from 1 to 4, with additional branching canals known as "accessory canals." It is advisable to have a 3D scan (conebeam technology) to ensure all canals are treated. At Snellville Endodontics, our expert endodontists opens the top of the tooth to access the root canal. They then remove the infected pulp tissue and thoroughly clean the canals. A series of instruments are employed to eliminate any remaining tissue, slightly enlarge the canals, and smoothen their walls. After ensuring complete removal of any infection, the root canals are sealed using either gutta-percha and root canal sealer. This sealing prevents the entry of bacteria or debris into the canals, preventing further infection.

At Snellville Endodontics conscious oral sedation provides a minimal alternative to deep sedation, ensuring you stay relaxed while remaining awake. It's especially useful for those anxious about dental procedures. The dentist combines an oral pill with a local anesthetic to minimize any discomfort. Ensure you arrange for someone to accompany you to the appointment and be available to drive you home afterward, because you will be groggy. Another option is Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, it’s a colorless, sweet-smelling gas you can inhale. It's been a primary sedation method in dentistry for years. Nitrous oxide is safe, with patients receiving 50-70% oxygen and at least 30% nitrous oxide. You'll breathe the laughing gas and feel a bit giddy. Some patients may experience mild amnesia and occasionally fall asleep during the appointment, not remembering all that occurred.

Cracked tooth symptoms can manifest in various ways, including pain during chewing, sensitivity to temperature or pressure, or a combination of these discomforts. The intermittent nature of the pain often makes it challenging to pinpoint the source of the problem. Identifying the specific tooth causing the discomfort can also prove difficult. Even slight movements of the cracked tooth fragments during chewing can irritate the tooth's pulp, leading to pain. Additionally, upon releasing the bite, the crack may rapidly close, resulting in sharp pain. Over time, as the tooth's pulp sustains damage, the pain becomes more persistent. Cracks in teeth have the potential to progress to infections in the pulp tissue, possibly extending to affect the surrounding gum and bone. At Snellville Endodontics, our endodontists, experts in preserving teeth and managing dental pain, frequently offer specialized care to patients with cracked teeth. Dental trauma, teeth grinding, or regular wear and tear are common factors that can lead to the development of a cracked tooth.

In most cases, root canals are successful and provide lifelong benefits. Occasionally, a previously treated tooth may become infected or compromised, requiring endodontic retreatment. At Snellville Endodontics we offer a second chance to save your natural tooth. Endodontic retreatment has a high success rate, allowing you to avoid tooth extraction and replacement with a bridge or dental implant. Like the initial root canal, its primary goal is to save your natural tooth, relieve dental and facial pain, and promote healing. The retreatment process begins with numbing with local anesthesia to ensure your comfort. The tooth is opened, the filling is removed, and the canals are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. An endodontic microscope will reveal additional canals or complex anatomy requiring further treatment.

Apicoectomy surgery is a specialized endodontic procedure for complex dental cases where root canal treatments may not suffice. At Snellville Endodontics our endodontists, skilled in such surgeries, can identify and rectify canals missed by conventional treatments. Known also as apical or root-end surgery, an apicoectomy is frequently the recourse following a root canal or its retreatment. In an attempt to save your tooth, an apicoectomy removes the end of the root tip, where infection is often found.