What does treatment involve?
First and foremost, orthodontic treatment involves the patient. To achieve the desired results, the patient must diligently follow our instructions about wearing orthodontic appliances and practice good dental hygiene. With braces, certain foods, like peanut brittle, caramels and bubble gum are off limits — as is chewing ice. We provide custom-made braces, retainers or other corrective appliances, according to the problem being treated. Whether they’re removable or “fixed” into the mouth, whether they’re made of metal, ceramic or plastic, all orthodontic appliances have a common purpose-to use gentle pressure to move teeth and jaws into their proper positions. Today’s patients benefit from techniques and materials that enhance the comfort of orthodontic treatment.
A root canal procedure requires one or more appointments and can be performed by a dentist or Endodontist (a root canal specialist). The procedure involves freezing the tooth and isolating it. A small hole is drilled into the tooth and any existing fillings or decay is removed. Each canal is cleaned to the tip of the root (normally teeth can have anywhere from 1 to 5 canals). The canals are then sealed with an inert material that occupies the space vacated by the removal of the pulp. This is one of the safest and most effective methods of saving a damaged tooth. After the inside of your tooth has been treated, the outside will be restored to protect your tooth’s underlying structures and to bring the tooth back into function. The tooth is usually covered with a ceramic or metal crown to prevent the tooth from fracturing.
