As Seen in the Woodbury Connector: By Dr. Erik Davis
The future of oral care is here. The practice of dentistry has come a long way from the days when root canals were perceived as an inevitable solution for fractured or heavily decayed teeth. This article highlights a transformative approach available at Aurora Dentistry that uses minimally invasive treatments to redefine the standard of care.
Two weeks ago, Patti came up to me at the Woodbury Expo stating her lower molar was heavily cracked and she had not been able to eat on the right side of her mouth for months. She feared a painful process and admitted her dentist’s traditional crown proposal did not seem like the right approach. We were able to offer Patti another option.
At Aurora Dentistry we offer minimally invasive procedures as one option for treatment. The tools in a traditional dental toolbox are often limited to a traditional root canal or complete removal or “pulling the tooth”. My interest in advanced dentistry and training has equipped me to offer a new perspective and options to consider. I explained to Patti that she could take advantage of Aurora Dentistry’s standard free consultation, which would allow me to take a closer look and offer recommendations.
Patti decided to visit us at Aurora Dentistry. At this appointment we determined that her tooth was still able to feel hot and cold “like normal”. Despite a large fracture and sensitivity to chewing, her tooth was still living! One of the options we could offer was a minimally invasive porcelain cover to replace the fractured part of her tooth – no root canal and no excessive removal of tooth structure. In other words, this procedure kept the tooth alive and kept all of the healthy natural tooth structure that remained. Both our clinic’s experience and the latest research has shown that a living tooth with more natural tooth structure is less likely to be lost down the road. In addition, any treatment that doesn’t involve a root canal incurs less expense and takes less time to treat. Patti chose to have her tooth treated with our minimally invasive “crown” approach (think of it as a veneer for a back tooth); an approach that is unique to our office. Patti reported feeling much better and was ecstatic that she was able to chew!
Even with large cavities or an extensive fracture, if the nerve in a tooth is healthy, I find that there is almost no chance of that tooth needing a root canal. At Aurora Dentistry we are always willing to provide a free consultation and provide choices when developing a personalized dental plan that may include crowns, fillings and implants. Come see us to learn more about your dental health and explore if a minimally invasive approach is right for you.