Lepow Dental Associates

• Our Dental Services
  • Family Dentistry
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Specialty Services
  • Orthodontic Services
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Our Dental Services: Specialty Services

Tooth Removal

21st century tooth removal has come a long way.

The Problem

• Wisdom teeth that need to be removed
• Excessive, irreparable tooth decay
• Fractured teeth
• Infected teeth
• Overcrowding of teeth

The Solution

Unfortunately, due to some of the reasons above, teeth must be removed. Fortunately, however, today's tooth removal procedures and understanding of anatomy help to make this process more comfortable for the patient than ever before.

Teeth are held in place by fibrous tissue called periodontal ligaments. By carefully severing or breaking these ligaments, teeth may be extracted without causing trauma to the jaw bone or other teeth.

Even wisdom tooth removal can be performed with minimal post-operative discomfort if simple procedures are followed based on the tooth location and anatomy of the jaw.

Follow-Up

Once a tooth has been removed, it is generally necessary to fill the gap with a bridge, implant or denture of some type. (Wisdom teeth are generally not replaced due to their location.) Filling the gap keeps the other teeth from shifting to fill the gap. This shifting of teeth can occur over time and lead to bite problems, jaw joint pain and decay on other teeth.

We will help you determine the best follow up treatment after tooth removal.

Root Canal Therapy

Protect and keep a sick or dying tooth.

The Problem:

• Infected or sick tooth due to decay or injury
• Chronic tooth pain from contact with hot and cold liquids
• Pain from pressure or biting down
• Danger of infection spreading

The Solution:

Inside each tooth is a pulp chamber that contains the nerves and blood supply for the tooth. When the pulp becomes infected due to decay or injury to the tooth, the pulp must be removed from the center of the tooth and the canals of each root. Once the infected pulp is removed, the remaining chamber is filled with a rubber-based material to seal it off.

All teeth that have had root canal therapy must be protected with a tooth-like artificial covering known as a crown (see Crowns.) This is because teeth that have had the pulp removed are more susceptible to fracture.

Advantages:

Root canal therapy is an excellent way to save a tooth that would otherwise die and need to be removed.

Disadvantages:

If a tooth is sick, there are no disadvantages to root canal therapy. On rare occasions, however, root canal therapy may need to be redone to ensure that all of the infection has been removed.

Alternatives:

The only real alternative is to remove the sick tooth. However, this will require a dental implant or bridge to fill the empty space and prevent the shifting of surrounding teeth. These solutions will ultimately cost more than the root canal therapy, and they will never equal the quality of keeping your natural tooth.