27
Jul
The Most Common Question We Hear is, “Will it Hurt?”
Many of our patients are understandably apprehensive about root canal treatment and want to know what to expect. In addition to their advanced training in all aspects of root canal treatment, our specialists at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, Drs. Rick Davis, Rick Schwartz and Zac Liang are experts at pain management.
Local Anesthetic
The most important aspect in managing a patient’s pain is to get the tooth completely numb prior to treatment. Painful teeth are generally harder to numb than the typical tooth that only needs a filling. Our specialists have employ a variety of special techniques to accomplish profound numbness. Generally, the bad experiences some patients have had during root canal treatment was because they weren’t completely numb. At Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, we get every patient completely numb before starting treatment.
Conscious Sedation
For patients who are particularly fearful or have had bad experiences in the past, we offer a full range of sedative options. In order from “lightest” to “deepest” sedation, options include:
- Nitrous oxide (or “laughing gas”)
- Oral sedation
- Intravenous (IV) sedation
Sedation refers to the delivery of medications to cause relaxation and sometimes sleep. With conscious sedation the protective reflexes of your airway remain intact and you are responsive to voice commands and can communicate with us throughout treatment. Many of our patients are apprehensive and nervous, and request sedation. You are not alone if you are fearful.
Call Our Office for More Information
New Patients: (210) 405-0473 | Existing Patients: (210) 497-6699
For oral and IV sedation, specialized equipment monitors your vital signs throughout treatment. For oral sedation (a prescription medication/pill) or IV sedation (administered through a vein in your arm), you must arrange for someone to drive you to and from our office.
We are here to help. If you are interested in sedation, Drs. Davis, Schwartz or Liang will discuss appropriate options with you. We also provide detailed instructions on what to do and what to expect before, during, and after treatment. Dental professionals in Boerne, Eagle Pass, Fredericksburg, Laredo, Del Rio, Spring Branch, and beyond trust their patients to our specialty team. Call Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio at (210) 405-0473 with questions or to schedule an appointment.
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.
