Sedation dentistry helps dental patients of all ages relax and feel at ease during a variety of dental procedures. Generally, there are three different options for sedation dentistry. All three options offer effective ways to manage dental anxiety and can be tailored to suit your specific requirements, sometimes combining different methods.

It's best to talk to your dentist if you think you need or could benefit from sedation dentistry. You might be surprised at how much easier sedation dentistry can make your trips to the dentist.

Inhalation Sedation

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is a widely utilized technique for alleviating mild to moderate anxiety. This colorless and odorless gas, mixed with oxygen, doesn't irritate your nose or mouth.

A soothing sensation will permeate your entire body within a few minutes of inhaling the gas, inducing relaxation. While you remain fully conscious and aware of your surroundings, recovery is swift, enabling you to resume your regular activities without delay (you can drive yourself to and from the appointment without concern).

Oral Sedation

Oral sedation is a widely adopted approach that is simple and needle-free. Your dentist will prescribe a pill to take approximately an hour before your appointment. By the time you arrive at our office, you'll be relaxed and prepared for your dental procedure.

Typically, in the form of anti-anxiety medication, oral sedation effectively quells apprehension related to your visit. However, given the sedative nature of the pill, you'll need a companion to accompany you to the appointment, as you won't be able to drive.

IV Sedation

In certain IV sedation scenarios, patients take a small pill about an hour before treatment, as previously described. Upon arriving at our practice, the staff will start an IV to administer the sedation medication. You will usually continue to receive this medication through your IV throughout the procedure to help you remain calm. You may feel like you are dreaming or have no recollection of the procedure at all.

With IV sedation dentistry, we can efficiently complete various procedures, all in a single office visit and with maximum patient comfort. You will need to bring someone with you to give you a ride home after receiving IV sedation for your dental procedure.

Who Can Benefit from Sedation Dentistry?

Dentists often recommend sedation dentistry for those patients with:

• Dental anxiety
• A fear of dental visits
• A  highly sensitive gag reflex
• A fear of needles (aichmophobia)
• Extremely sensitive teeth
• Claustrophobia while sitting in the dentist's chair
• Decreased sensitivity to local anesthesia options
• Difficulty controlling physical movements
• Special needs (including physical, cognitive, or behavioral)

Learn More about Sedation Dentistry at Heart of Texas Endodontics

At Heart of Texas Endodontics, we know that dental procedures can sometimes invoke fear or anxiety. Our goal is to keep you as relaxed as possible before and during your treatment. You can count on our team to explain your available sedation options and guide you to select the right one for your individual needs.

To learn more about sedation dentistry or to schedule a consultation, contact us today at 254-778-4400 or request an appointment online.

A cracked tooth is a common occurrence. The chances of a cracked tooth increase as you age because your tooth enamel weakens over time. Chronic teeth grinding, biting down on something hard, or using your teeth to open something hard could also cause a tooth to crack. 

If you know or suspect that you have a cracked tooth, you may be wondering if it will heal on its own or if it needs treatment. Here’s what you should do if you have a cracked tooth. 

How Do You Know If Your Tooth Has a Crack? 

If the crack in your tooth is not visible or obvious, it can be more difficult to diagnose. Here are some common signs and symptoms of a cracked tooth:

• Sensitivity. If you suddenly have new or increased sensitivity to cold, heat, or sugar in a certain area of your mouth, it may indicate a crack in a tooth. 
• Pain that comes and goes. If your tooth hurts some of the time, but not all the time, it often indicates that there is a small crack you can’t see. 
• Severe pain. A tooth that is cracked may develop an infection from bacteria that gets inside the tooth. An infected tooth can cause severe pain and should be treated promptly. 
• Pain when chewing. If you feel pain when you chew or bite into food, it may be due to a crack in a tooth. 
• Swelling of the gums. The gum tissue may swell around the tooth if there is a crack. This is also a sign of possible infection in the tooth. 

Does a Cracked Tooth Need Treatment?

A cracked tooth should be treated as soon as possible. If you suspect that you have a cracked tooth, contact your endodontist right away. The crack will not heal on its own, it will only worsen and reduce the chances of saving the tooth. A cracked tooth is at risk for infection. Bacteria can enter the root canal through the crack and infect the dental pulp. If the infection is not treated or if the crack extends too far, the tooth may need to be extracted. 

How is a Cracked Tooth Treated? 

Cracked tooth treatment typically involves root canal therapy and placement of a crown. Root canal therapy treats or prevents infection by removing the dental pulp from the inside of the tooth and filling it with a replacement material that is resistant to infection. The tooth is able to remain in place with a crown placed over it. 

When is a Cracked Tooth Untreatable?

In some cases a crack in a tooth is too severe for the tooth to be saved. If a crack begins in the crown of the tooth and extends under the gums it maynot be repairable. This is called a split tooth because the tooth is essentially split in half even though the pieces may still be connected. A split tooth will need to be extracted and replaced with a bridge or dental implant. 

Who Can Treat a Cracked Tooth?

A cracked tooth can be treated by an endodontist. An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in restoring the health of your teeth from the inside out. This makes them especially qualified to treat a cracked tooth. Endodontists perform root canals along with other endodontic procedures. If you have a tooth that is at high risk of infection or already infected because of a crack, an endodontist may have the best chance of saving the tooth. 

Why Choose Heart of Texas Endodontics?

Heart of Texas Endodontics provides prompt, effective treatment for cracked teeth. We do all that we can to save your tooth if possible. The sooner you come to us regarding a cracked tooth, the higher the chances that we will be able to save it. 

Call 254-778-4400 or contact us today to schedule an appointment. 

Celebration tinged with anxiety aptly describes most expecting mothers’ lives today where they constantly worry about their own health as well as that of their unborn child's well-being. 

Mothers-to-be ponder over questions regarding how various medical procedures like root canal treatment would affect them or not during pregnancy phase; bringing up several concerns about safety aspects before getting a procedure like this done.

Unarguably, root canal procedure has now become widespread across dentistry clinics all around us; however when dealing with pregnant women, relevant questions defy precise answers regarding its efficacy.

This informative piece talks about potential risks, common concerns and standard precautions needed to be taken in order to ensure maximum safety for both mother and baby during the execution of root canal procedures.

Understanding root canals and their purpose

Understanding what root canal procedures during pregnancy entail as well as their necessity is fundamental before diving into their safety during pregnancy evaluation.

Root canals are dental procedures aimed at eliminating infected or damaged pulp from within a tooth that often results from decay or trauma, among other reasons, leading to inflammation of nerves and blood vessels contained in it. With proper removal of affected pulp tissues by dentists through careful cleaning and shaping of root channels, this helps save teeth while alleviating pain hence restoring function often followed by crown placement over filled up spaces using biocompatible materials. 

While considered safe with local anesthesia, providing comfort through an emergency appointment for this procedure, relieving dental pain, and maintaining functional teeth status always raise flags for concern.

Common concerns about root canals during pregnancy

Expectant mothers weighing whether to undergo root canal work during pregnancy commonly raise concerns about the potential risks of anesthesia and medication usage associated with this kind of procedure. 

These worries stem from considerations over how their actions might impact the development of their unborn child. Yet it should be reassuring to know that local anesthesia typically poses low danger levels since little enters into circulation through its localized application system. 

Women may also fret about exposure to radiation from dental X-rays taken during treatment; these scans are normally essential for diagnosing oral issues correctly and planning precise interventions but prudence would dictate minimizing exposure wherever possible, particularly during the initial trimester (a period when fetal organs rapidly take shape). And if there is no way to avoid ordering an X-ray, certain precautions are recommended such as using protective attire or equipment like custom-made aprons adapted specifically for such environments.

Finally, some women voice anxieties over undergoing any sort of dental procedures while expecting. The extra tension associated with visiting the dentist for treatment can add stress atop the physical ordeal of bringing new life into the world – but equally important is bearing in mind that untreated oral problems can also lead to discomfort and even worse anxiety levels. Tackling these difficulties head-on through interventions such as root canal work could potentially reduce overall stress loads and improve well-being prospects across the board.

Benefits of getting a root canal during pregnancy

Most elective dental treatment should be avoided during pregnancy. However, there are several benefits associated with root canal therapy during pregnancy that you cannot afford to ignore either. 

The procedure can quickly alleviate intense tooth pains, thus enabling you to focus better on your emotional and physical wellness when needed most. 

Additionally, preserving natural teeth with root canal procedures as opposed to getting them extracted comes with its own set of benefits too.Tooth extraction during pregnancy could lead to nutritional deficiencies due to problems with being able to eat or chew normally. Extraction can also impact surrounding teeth, adversely posing a risk of future dental problems that may arise for pregnant women. 

By opting for root canal procedures, it ensures oral function is maintained.  As well, common dental health issues can be eradicated on top of maintaining one's appearance which has major significance towards sustaining self-confidence–especially in periods like this where tremendous changes occur.

Precautions and Considerations for pregnant women seeking root canals

If undergoing root-canal therapy while pregnant seems necessary, proper communication with both your dentist and healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns is paramount.  Some general precautionary advice applies specifically to expectant mothers looking into this procedure:

It's advisable that non-urgent dental treatments are delayed until past their first trimester when internal organs have either fully formed or stabilized.

Procedures involving local anesthesia are typically considered safe whilst pregnant but dosage amounts should be adjusted accordingly as needed. On the other hand, nitrous oxide or "laughing gas" administration is not recommended when pregnant. 

To limit exposure to radiation, lead aprons for abdominal and thyroid protection should be used. 

Medications that could assist with potential infections such as antibiotics might be necessary before or after undergoing root-canal therapy while pregnant; dental professionals should be notified of any impairments due to pregnancy beforehand carefully.

Root Canal Therapy in Temple

While research on the safety of root canals for pregnant women is limited, available evidence suggests that they can be performed safely, provided appropriate precautions are taken.

Maintaining good dental health during pregnancy is essential, and root canals can be an effective treatment option to alleviate severe tooth pain and save teeth from extraction. However, it is important to communicate openly with your dentist and healthcare provider, who can provide personalized advice based on your specific situation. To learn more, contact us at 254-778-4400.

A cracked tooth is a relatively common occurrence. Cracks can develop in teeth from a variety of causes, but the good news is that cracked teeth can often be saved. In many cases it is possible to permanently repair a cracked tooth so that it lasts for the rest of your life. 

If you have a cracked tooth, you may be wondering if it can be saved and how an endodontist will repair it. Here’s what you can expect when it comes to treatment for a cracked tooth. 

Types of Cracks in Teeth and Treatment 

There are different types of cracks that can form in teeth, and the type may determine whether or not the tooth can be saved. 

• Fractured cusp. When a piece or corner of a tooth breaks off, it is called a fractured cusp. If the piece is relatively small and only consists of the top layer of enamel, it may only require composite bonding. A larger fracture may require a crown restoration, a protective tooth-shaped cap placed over the existing tooth. Only if the fracture is large enough to expose the dentin will a root canal be needed. 
• Vertical crack above the gumline. When a vertical crack forms in a tooth that extends toward the gumline but does not reach the gum tissue, it is most likely treatable. The tooth will need a root canal to treat or prevent infection of the dental pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth. Then a crown will need to be placed over the tooth to repair the crack. 
• Vertical crack under the gumline. If the crack begins in the root of the tooth or if it extends beneath the gumline into the root portion of the tooth, it is most likely untreatable. The tooth will need to be extracted and replaced with a dental implant or bridge. 

What is a Root Canal?

A fractured or cracked tooth will often need a root canal to protect the health of the tooth from the inside out. Inside each tooth is a chamber called the root canal that contains dental pulp, soft tissue made up of blood vessels and nerves. When a crack in a tooth goes deep enough, it can reach the root canal and expose the dental pulp to bacteria, resulting in an infection. 

A root canal can treat or prevent a tooth infection by removing the dental pulp from the tooth and filling the root canal with a biocompatible material. This fortifies the tooth and removes the portion that is susceptible to infection. 

What is a Dental Crown? 

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a damaged tooth. When a crack forms in a tooth, a crown is the best restoration option because it prevents the crack from worsening. A crack can sometimes be patched with composite material, but there is a chance that the crack will deepen and lengthen, resulting in a split tooth that is untreatable. 

To prepare for a crown, the existing tooth enamel is reduced, which removes the portion that is cracked. The crown is placed over the remaining tooth enamel, allowing the natural root of the tooth to stay in place for support. 

How Will I Know If I Have a Cracked Tooth?

If the crack is not visible to the naked eye, it can be harder to tell if your tooth is cracked. An endodontist has specialized training and tools to determine if a crack exists that needs to be treated.  A patient can look for the following symptoms of a cracked tooth:

• Sensitivity to heat and cold
• Pain when chewing
• Lingering pain in a tooth
• Severe toothache. 

What To Do If You Think You Have a Cracked Tooth

If you experience any of the above symptoms, contact Heart of Texas Endodontics. As an endodontic practice, we specialize in the health of teeth from the inside out. Providing treatment for cracked teeth is one of our primary services. We make it our goal to save your teeth whenever possible, providing prompt treatment to prevent cracks from worsening and becoming untreatable. 

Call 254-778-4400 or contact us today to learn more and schedule an appointment.