Root Canals

One of the most notoriously known procedures in endodontics is the root canal. Endodontics focuses on the nerves of the teeth. As you may know, anything that affects a nerve in the body is quite painful. It is vital that steps are taken toward the prevention of ever needing a root canal. Suzanne Haeri DDS in Los Angeles, CA, is committed to educating her patients about proper dental hygiene at home and the importance of regular dental cleanings.

When bacteria infect the root canal of a tooth, a root canal procedure is required to eliminate this bacteria, prevent reinfection, and save the natural tooth. When a patient undergoes a root canal, the inflamed pulp caused by the bacteria is removed, then the inside of the tooth is disinfected, filled, and sealed carefully. If the natural tooth is saved with a root canal, there are many advantages for the patient. Benefits include protection from the other teeth getting worn or stained, normal biting force and sensation, natural appearance, and better chewing.

Signs that you might need a root canal include:

-Swollen or tender gums

-A chipped or cracked tooth

-Pimples on your gums

-Pain while chewing or biting

-Darkening of your gums

-Sensitivity to hot or cold, even after the sensation has been physically removed

Are you suffering from a severe toothache? Hurry in for a checkup! can get you started on a treatment plan. Suzanne Haeri DDS practices at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA 90035. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit suzannehaeridds.com or call 310-657-2200.

Smoking and Pulp Infections

Oral cancer is far from the only dental problem related to smoking. At the South Carthay office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, we provide general and cosmetic dentistry treatments. Frequently, we help to repair diseased gum tissue and stains that have resulted from tobacco, but now, researchers have uncovered another danger posed by smoking: reduced resilience to pulp infections.

Toothaches are often due to infections of the pulp within our teeth. Dental pulp can become inflamed (pulpitis) due to injury to the tooth or direct exposure to air, but it is most often due to bacteria and the acid they produce entering the pulp chamber. This would happen as a result of dental infections incurred through poor oral hygiene, which are exacerbated by smoking.

In addition to being painful, pulp infections potentially threaten the stability of tooth roots and can cause bad breath. In the worst instances, they can spread into the bloodstream and be fatal. Although mild infections may be treatable without a root canal, new research shows that smoking destroys the immune system defenses inside dental pulp. This makes it much likelier a patient will need root canal treatment, and may necessitate removing the tooth altogether. We hope that smokers will not ignore toothaches, since they will only get worse without intervention. We also hope that smokers will be motivated to quit by knowing there is some evidence that dental pulp’s immune defenses can revive without continued exposure to smoke.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.

 

Reasons for Extractions

Dr. Suzanne Haeri’s years of dental experience will ensure she sees patients safely through dental extractions. However, healthy natural teeth tend to have longer lifespans than artificial ones, which is why when we recommend teeth be removed, we want our patients to know it’s for a good reason.

A lot can be done to repair teeth that have been cracked or chipped, but if a tooth is cracked all the way down the root, it will have to be removed. Cracks and caries also pose a risk of infection in the dental pulp. Root canals are a means of saving the natural outer portion of a tooth while removing infected inner material, but sometimes, an initial root canal is unable to remove the infection entirely. This would usually result in referral to a specialist before a decision to remove the tooth is made, but extraction may happen if there is a significant chance of the infection spreading to the bloodstream.

The most common reason for extractions is preparation for orthodontic work. When the teeth are too crowded, some of them may simply have to be removed in order for the others to be aligned into a healthy arch. This is what often happens to the wisdom teeth, which may not even be able to erupt fully due to overcrowding.

Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90035. To set up an appointment, call 310-647-2200 or visit Suzanne Haeri DDS and fill out a request.