14
Aug
Frequently Asked Questions About Endodontic Emergencies
The doctors at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio are the leaders in San Antonio and South Texas in preserving damaged teeth due to progressive decay or traumatic injuries. Dr. Rick Davis, Dr. Rick Schwartz and Dr. Zac Liang are experts at diagnosing and treating teeth that are cracked, loose, displaced, or otherwise damaged. Our specialists are experts at relieving pain, eliminating infection, and restoring teeth to health.
What are some of the common injuries?
Children (and sometimes adults) experience facial trauma that often includes injuries to the teeth, including fractures, loosening and sometimes avulsion (the tooth is completely “knocked out”). This often occurs during sports activities and requires specific treatment protocols to save the teeth.
One manifestation of trauma may be cracking of a tooth or teeth. If the tooth remains intact, other than the crack, this is referred to as cracked tooth syndrome (CTS) and may manifest as:
- Sudden, sharp pain when biting down
- Sharp and brief pain when the affected tooth comes in contact with something cold
- Discomfort when chewing tough and grainy foods
- Tooth sensitivity when drinking and eating sweet or acidic drinks and foods
How do you treat CTS and other injuries?
The extent of the crack will determine the appropriate treatment. Craze lines, which only impact the enamel, do not threaten the overall health of the affected teeth and do not cause any pain. Every tooth has shallow cracks in the enamel, but most don’t require any treatment. Deeper cracks, which cause sharp pains while chewing but no other symptoms generally need a crown, but not root canal treatment. Cracks that cause spontaneous jaw pain may need root canal treatment or in some cases the tooth may need to be extracted. At Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, can make the proper diagnosis and recommend the proper course of treatment.
Call Our Office for More Information
New Patients: (210) 405-0473 | Existing Patients: (210) 497-6699
What is Root Canal Treatment?
The inside of a tooth contains nerves, blood vessels, and tissue. This “dental pulp” is protected by a hard enamel covering and under the enamel is a softer dentin layer. When the protective layers of a tooth are damaged due to decay or trauma, the pulp inside may become vulnerable to infections. To address this issue, root canal treatment can be performed to remove the infected pulp and restore the tooth to normal health and function.
Endodontic Consultants can also advise on what to do about other types of injuries. For example, a tooth that has been “knocked-out” can often be saved when managed and cared for properly, and can last for decades. Call our office in San Antonio, TX, today at (210) 405-0473.
Dr. Richard Davis, DDS
Richard D. Davis, DDS, graduated from high school in Japan, attended the University of Washington dental school, and joined the Air Force as a general dentist in 1978. He completed the Air Force one-year AEGD residency, a two-year Advanced General Dentistry Residency, and a fellowship in biomaterials at the University of Indiana. Dr. Davis was a clinical instructor, research director, and lecturer at the Air Force. He has published many scientific articles and research papers, and has lectured on many topics. Following retirement from the Air Force in 1999, he completed the graduate program in endodontics at the University of Oregon in 2001, and joined Dr. Schwartz and has been in private practice in endodontics since then.
Dr. Richard Schwartz, DDS
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Richard S. Schwartz, DDS, graduated from the University of Minnesota dental school in 1977. He was a restorative dentist for 19 years: Early in his career, he attended a two-year general dentistry residency while in the US Air Force, and then did a combination of private practice, teaching, and dental materials research before entering endodontic post-graduate training in 1996. He has authored over 100 articles and abstracts in scientific journals and lectured extensively in the US and in 21 other countries, including 12 times at the American Association of Endodontists’ national meeting. Since 1998 Dr. Schwartz has been in full-time private practice in endodontics in San Antonio, TX, and has practiced with Dr. Davis since 2001. He was a founding member and first secretary/treasurer of the International Association of Endodontics. He is also a member of the American Dental Association and International Association of Dental Specialists.
