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When you have a dental health concern about one or more of your teeth, the best option is always to keep your natural teeth! Often, the only alternative to endodontic treatment (also known as root canal treatment) is extraction of the tooth.

That’s followed by implant surgery or the placement of a bridge, and although these are common treatments nowadays, endodontic treatment should be your first consideration.

If you’re told by Dr. Ron Shiver that you need a root canal or endodontic treatment, you will probably have some questions. We'll try to answer some of them here.

What is endodontic treatment?

The most common type of endodontic treatment performed at our Valdosta office is called an apicoectomy. In this procedure, Dr. Ron Shiver will surgically open the gum tissue, remove infected or inflamed material from the underlying bone, and remove the tip of the root.

Who needs endodontic treatment?

Usually, endodontic treatment is recommended for patients who have persistent pain or symptoms that can’t be detected by other, non-surgical means such as X-rays or a visual examination. This means typically the tooth has a hairline fracture or a small canal that’s causing discomfort. There are also cases where a patient may have a canal that has become calcified.

Why do I need surgery?

By performing a root canal, Dr. Ron Shiver can examine the entire root of the tooth to learn what is causing the discomfort and address it. So it’s not just a treatment but a means of diagnosis too. After the problem has been addressed, you will be able to keep your natural tooth and use it as you always have.

What’s the benefit of root canal treatment as opposed to getting an implant or a bridge?

A root canal allows patients to keep their natural tooth. Nothing comes close to how a natural tooth looks and functions, no matter how advanced implant technology or bridges may become. Often, a tooth that’s undergone a root canal can last patients their entire lifetime without any need for further treatment.

What if I’ve had a root canal but still have pain?

In rare cases, it’s possible that a tooth that has undergone a root canal could become inflamed or infected again. If this is the case, other surgical options may be able to save your tooth.

The most common procedure for an endodontist is a root canal, which involves treating infected roots in order to save the tooth. To become a specialist, Dr. Ron Shiver had to complete at least two additional years of schooling. Your general dentist may refer you to Ron L. Shiver DMD Family & Restorative Dentistry if you experience chronic tooth pain and your X-rays show signs of infection.

Just like a cardiologist only deals with disorders of the heart, an endodontist only works with the pulp, or inside tissues, of your teeth. This specialization allows for more accurate diagnostics and better results with treatment. Your regular dentist is qualified to perform simple root canals, but an endodontist can provide you with more treatment options that can restore your teeth for life. Procedures that endodontists can perform but general dentists cannot include:

• Cracked teeth treatment
• Diagnosis and treatment of complex root problems
• Tooth replacements
• Consultations for facial trauma patients
• Surgical removal of roots

Why visit an endodontist?

While no type of replacement is as good as your natural teeth, root canals and other endodontic procedures effectively save teeth, and specialists prefer these methods over extractions, bridges, and implants. If your dentist ever suggests tooth removal as treatment, you should request an endodontic consultation for other options. Endodontists have access to more advanced diagnostic technology, such as ultrasonic imaging and operating microscopes, and can offer you a larger selection of treatment options to prevent the loss of adult teeth.

Endodontic treatment reduces the time it takes for treatment and recovery. While you do not need to see a specialist for every dental issue, there are some symptoms that indicate problems with your teeth’s blood vessels, roots, nerves, and soft tissues. Seek an endodontist’s specialized care when you experience the following symptoms.

• Sharp pain when biting
• Sensitivity to hot or cold foods followed by lingering pain
• Persistent and severe pain with swollen gums
• Uncomfortable aches in the upper teeth and jaws

You value your natural teeth, and at our Valdosta office, we can help ensure the longevity and function of your pearly whites for the years to come!

Did you know there are as many types of dental fillings as there are flavors of ice cream? Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. Still, when you visit the dentist with a cavity, there are many filling options. Most of us just sit in the chair, open our mouths, and let the dentist work his or her magic. But have you ever stopped to consider what the dentist is filling and restoring your decayed or broken tooth with?

Five types of dental fillings

There are five basic kinds of dental filing material. The dentist decides which type to use based on the degree of the decay, the cost of the material, and the type of dental insurance you have.

1. Dental amalgam, or silver fillings, have been used to fill cavities for more than 150 years. Dental amalgam is the most common type of dental filling. It's strong, durable, and less expensive than other types.
2. Composite fillings, or white fillings, are popular because the color matches the rest of your teeth. Composite fillings are a combination of resin and plastic. They are more aesthetically pleasing than silver fillings, but are also less durable.
3. Ceramic fillings are durable and visually appealing (tooth-colored), but they are expensive. They are made of porcelain and have been shown to be resistant to staining.
4. Glass ionomers are typically used on children whose teeth are still changing. Constructed from glass and acrylic, glass ionomers are designed to last fewer than five years. The benefit of these dental fillings is that they release fluoride, which protects the changing tooth from further decay.
5. Unless you’re a rock or movie star, gold fillings aren’t common. While a gold filling is durable, non-corrosive, and can last more than 15 years, it not only takes more than one dental visit to place, but, as you can imagine, it is expensive.

For more information about fillings, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ron Shiver, please give us a call at our convenient Valdosta office!

Fortunately, most of our dental work is fairly straightforward. You have an exam and a cleaning, or a cavity gets filled, or a crown might be used to protect a fragile tooth. But sometimes, a more complex dental problem affects one of your molars. In this case, it could be the right time to call in an endodontist like Dr. Ron Shiver—a dental professional skilled in saving at-risk teeth.

Endodontists have two or more years of specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of the inner tooth and the tissue surrounding it. An endodontist has the knowledge and experience to treat complex molar issues, and modern endodontics provides a number of options to protect the health and appearance of your natural teeth even when they have suffered an injury.

The inside of each tooth contains the vital (living) pulp, which includes blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. Once the pulp has suffered injury or infection, a root canal is almost always necessary to save the tooth. The bone and connective tissue surrounding the tooth can also suffer trauma or infection.

In the case of serious molar trauma or infection that goes beyond root canal treatment, Dr. Ron Shiver might be able to save part or even most of your tooth with endodontic surgery. Two of the surgical procedures which can save such a molar are hemisection and bicuspidization.

When might an endodontist consider hemisection or bicuspidization?

• A root canal is a common endodontic procedure in which the damaged pulp is removed, and the tooth is cleaned, shaped, and sealed. Sometimes, though, an infection persists. In this case, part of the tooth might be removed to save the remaining natural tooth.
• When a traumatic vertical fracture occurs, a tooth is split from top to bottom. Depending on the location of the fracture, part of the tooth may be saved with surgical intervention.
• Serious decay or injury can damage a limited area of the tooth, while leaving another part of the tooth intact. Surgery can save the healthy part of the tooth.
• When periodontitis (serious gum disease) attacks the bone around the roots, severe bone loss can take place between the roots or around a single root. Surgery might be necessary to repair the damage.

In each of these procedures, the goal of Dr. Ron Shiver is to preserve as much of your molar as possible. How is this done?

• Hemisection

In a hemisection, the injured tooth is split into two parts, and the part of the crown and the root that cannot be restored are removed. The remaining healthy crown area and root will be cleaned and treated, and a temporary crown will be put in place to protect the tooth. A permanent crown will then be designed to custom-fit the tooth.

• Bicuspidization

In this procedure, the damaged tooth is separated into two parts, each with a crown section and a root. The divided portions are cleaned and shaped, and temporary crowns will protect each section. A custom crown or crowns will be needed to cover and protect each segment of the tooth.

Why should you consider a hemisection or a bicuspidization? These procedures are alternatives to tooth extraction, and allow Dr. Ron Shiver to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible. While an implant or a bridge is certainly an option, we always prefer saving your natural teeth. If your dental problem involves the inner tooth or the tissue around it, ask us about your treatment options when you visit our Valdosta office. It’s not only worth your while—it’s worth your smile!