Hearing the phrase, “you need root canal treatment” can cause fear and anxiety for many people. While this procedure has a reputation for being painful, the truth is it really can be done painlessly, restoring your oral health and avoiding an unnecessary extraction. In the hands of experienced specialists at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, Texas, you can rest assured that your root canal procedure will be as easy as possible. Our primary concerns are eliminating infection and relieving pain, and ensuring that the entire process is comfortable and pain-free.
Why we may recommend root canal treatment
Root canal treatments are performed to save a tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted. Some of the most common scenarios where root canals procedures may be recommended include:
- Severe infection
- Abscess
- Deep decay
- Traumatic dental injuries
- Teeth with multiple fillings
Why not just extract?
You may be wondering why you should have a root canal procedure performed rather than just having the tooth pulled. Once a tooth is extracted, the remaining teeth have to carry a greater load, making them more susceptible to cracks and other problems. If the tooth is not replaced it may affect your appearance, chewing function and overall health. While there are many effective replacement options, most are considerably more expensive than root canal treatment, and none are as good as having the natural tooth in place.
How root canal procedures are performed
During the procedure, the endodontist will remove the soft tissue inside the tooth called the pulp, where the nerves are located. The root canal space will be thoroughly cleaned and filled with a rubbery material called gutta-percha, coated with a sealer to protect it from future infections. The entire process is quite similar to a traditional filling, with just a few more steps.
Painless dentistry in San Antonio, TX
Most patients do well with local anaesthetic only, but for those who are particularly anxious, Drs. Rick Davis and Rick Schwartz at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio, offer multiple sedation options from nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to I.V. sedation to “put you to sleep.” If you have a nagging toothache and have been putting off treatment, it’s important to seek care before it gets worse. We will evaluate you, determine the cause of your pain, and recommend treatment options to preserve your oral health. Call us today at (210) 405-0473 to make 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.
Dr. Zhangrui Liang, DDS, MS
Dr. Zhangrui “Zac” Liang, DDS, MS, grew up in China and has been in the US since 2015. He attended dental school in China and did his endodontic training at
UCLA, where he also received a Masters of Science degree. He has practiced with Dr. Davis and Dr. Schwartz since 2022.
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