06
Nov
Four facts about root canal therapy to ease your worries about treatment
At Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, we appreciate that some patients are fearful or apprehensive about dental treatments. One key to managing anxiety is effective local anesthesia. There should be no pain associated with root canal treatment or any dental procedure, for that matter. All a patient should feel is light pressure and vibration, nothing uncomfortable. Our endodontists, Dr. Rick Schwartz, Dr. Rick Davis, and Dr. Zac Liang, are experts at providing effective local anesthesia. Other dental professionals trust their most complex and challenging patients to us. In addition, many of them, as well as their family members, are our patients. For those patients who are particularly anxious, we also provide three levels of conscious sedation.
No. 1: Root canal treatment resolves pain.
Tooth infections can cause persistent, intense pain. Root canal treatment is performed to relieve that pain, eliminate infection, and avoid extractions. Root canal treatment has a reputation for being painful, but that should never be the case with proper local anesthesia. When performed properly, root canal therapy relieves pain and swelling and does not produce additional discomfort.
No. 2: You won’t feel discomfort during treatment.
Our practice is known for its pain-free treatment. Before the initial shots, the tissue is numbed with topical anesthetic and sometimes cold to minimize the discomfort from the injections. Our specialists also inject slowly and gently. Once the tooth is adequately numb, there should be no pain during the procedures. In most cases, after the numbness wears off, the tooth feels immediately better and is back to normal within a day or two.
Call Our Office for More Information
New Patients: (210) 405-0473 | Existing Patients: (210) 497-6699
No. 3: You benefit from the advanced capabilities of a specialty center.
Our doctors have advanced specialty training and years of experience and employ the latest technologies. These include GentleWave® technology as well as the Fotona laser. These machines flush out the tooth more effectively than traditional irrigation methods and help ensure the success of root canal treatment while minimizing the risk of complications and treatment failures. This high-tech approach to cleaning and disinfecting the tooth is designed to reach even the most complex internal tooth anatomy, where microbes tend to linger in an infected tooth. With advancements in dental technologies and science, root canal therapy has never been faster, more effective, and easier on the patient.
No. 4: Sedative options to help you relax.
Our practice offers a range of sedation methods to help even the most fearful and apprehensive patients feel comfortable at every step in the treatment process. These methods range from minimal sedation with nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”) to deeper sedation with prescription medication (a pill taken before the appointment) or intravenously (the sedative administered through a vein). Before your treatment at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, we can discuss the most appropriate ways to help you relax.
You deserve only the most comfortable and stress-free experience. To speak with a team member in San Antonio, TX, call (210) 405-0473 today.
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.
