Emergency

If you're in need of root canal therapy, you may be having trouble eating or sleeping. A toothache or sensitivity to hot or cold is common for those with infected pulp, and you may even have swelling or tenderness in the gums. Your discomfort is a sign you need to see Dr. Samad -- and fast! While toothache remedies may relieve your pain, they won't fix your problem. Pain from infected root canals is often a signal that you need professional dental treatment to save the tooth.

Of course, if you do have any kind of tooth discomfort, it's important not to self-diagnose. Dr. Samad can properly diagnose the pain and provide the appropriate treatments.

When serious infection or damage is present, Dr. Samad may refer you to a root canal specialist (an endodontist).

Getting Root Canal Therapy

Luckily, you don't need the nerve for a tooth to survive -- the nerve's purpose in a grown tooth is to provide nutrients and send signals to the brain, letting you know when dental problems come up. Now that you know your tooth needs help, Dr. Samad can take the appropriate measures to fix it.

It's human to take your health for granted. When you're young and carefree, it's easy to believe that you'll feel vibrant and strong forever. Unfortunately, things break down when you neglect them -- your teeth and gums included.

When you don't brush or floss regularly, dental plaque, a sticky film filled with bacteria, forms on your teeth. Dental plaque can infect your gums and the sulcus, the v-shaped crevice just below the gum line.

At this stage, the infection is called gingivitis. If it progresses, it's called periodontitis. Both are forms of periodontal disease, also known as gum disease.

Dental plaque is the primary culprit of periodontal disease. If not removed within 26 hours, dental plaque turns into dental tartar, which causes periodontal disease.

If you suspect that you have early, moderate or advanced periodontitis, don't waste time guessing -- call Laurel Pines Dental Group today.

When you hear the word "surgery," you may automatically imagine a complicated procedure, but oral and maxillofacial surgery refers to a wide range of treatments -- everything from a simple tooth extraction to dental implants.

Oral surgery wisdom teeth is probably the most well-known type of dental surgery. When third molars, or wisdom teeth, come in sideways, are too large, become misaligned or may cause damage to surrounding teeth, one or all four may be extracted. If our dentists recommend oral surgery wisdom teeth, be sure to discuss your sedation options so you'll be as comfortable as possible.

Please talk to the dentists at Laurel Pines Dental Group about any condition that may relate to you teeth and mouth, including oral surgery wisdom teeth. There are also possible oral surgery procedures for sleep apnea, TMD, facial injuries and cosmetic preferences as well as any pain or discomfort you may be feeling.