Apexification and Apexogenesis Therapy in Buffalo NY

If your child’s teeth were damaged, a root canal may not be the best option. At Precision Endodontics, our skilled Buffalo endodontist performs apexification and apexogenesis therapy for younger patients to restore the damage. Call our experienced endodontics office to schedule an appointment.

Buffalo Endodontist Working to Preserve Your Child’s Teeth in Emergency Situations with Apexification and Apexogenesis

When teeth in older children or adults are damaged, a root canals is sometime the best option. However, when younger children sustain similar injuries, these methods may not be the best possible approach. Apexification and Apexogenesis are methods that may be suitable for your child.

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Fortunately, young children usually heal rather quickly. An experienced Buffalo endodontist can use advanced pulp therapy techniques to restore the damage and promote healthy long-term tooth development.

At Precision Endodontics P.C., we provide advanced treatment options in these situations.  More importantly, we have a high level of dedication to each child, and we will treat your child like we would treat our own family.

Tooth Trauma Injuries in Children

Researchers now believe that two regenerative genes – IMP1 and Lin28a – are very active in fetuses and gradually weaken as the person gets older, which explains why children heal much faster than adults, especially when it comes to bone tissue. Some doctors believe that this “genetic fountain of youth” may one day have amazing applications, but when it comes to endodontics, this difference has amazing applications today.

Because children heal more quickly from bone trauma injuries, they can also heal much more quickly, and much more effectively, from tooth trauma injuries. Moreover, some of the traditional therapies used in adults, like crowns and bridges, may not be best for children, because replacing some teeth may inhibit future growth. Also, since a child’s jaw is still developing, young children are generally not candidates for implants and related procedures.

Apexification and Apexogenesis Treatment Options

Two essential components to saving a child’s teeth after a traumatic injury are keeping the pulp alive and restoring the root. After an avulsion or extrusion (partial dislodging), the pulp can usually be kept alive without medication for between thirty minutes and two hours. Then, a Buffalo endodontist can use one of several medicines to sustain tooth pulp, including:

  • CaOH: Tried and true Calcium Hydroxide has yielded effective results in many patients since it was first used in 1936.
  • MTA: The Food and Drug Administration approved Mineral Trioxide Aggregate in 1998, and it is fast becoming the medication of choice, because it has fewer side effects and forms a better seal than CaOH.

CaOH and MTA are both powders that become gel-like pastes when added to water.

If the pulp can be salvaged, which is possible in most cases, an experienced Buffalo Endodontist can salvage your child’s teeth through one of two procedures on the roots:

Apexification and Apexogenesis:

  • Apexogenesis: As either CaOH or MTA restores the pulp, the roots continue to develop and may only need monitoring and occasional minor intervention to reach maturity.
  • Apexification: In some cases, diseased or damaged pulp must be gently extracted to make room for healthy cells. Endodontists then strengthen the root apex (tip) and closely monitor the patients to watch for hairline tooth cracks and other fractures.

Apexogenesis and Apexification therapy usually takes between six weeks and eighteen months, depending on the patient’s general health, age, and extent of tooth damage.

Count on Experienced and Caring Staff

At Precision Endodontics P.C., we work hard to get results that exceed the expectations of our patients and their families. Contact Buffalo Endodontist, Dr. Aaron McCann, to set your appointment for Apexification and Apexogenesis.

Root Canal/ Apexification and Apexogenesis FAQs

How can I choose the best endodontist?

The first thing we suggest is a recommendation from your general dentist. If you have confidence in your dentist, you can have confidence in the specialist to whom they refer you. Speak with friends and family who can share their personal opinions. Do some research on the specific doctor, such as where they did their training and how much training they’ve had, what types of technology they’re using, and to ensure that they offer state-of-the-art treatment that follows the standard of care in every aspect.

Are endodontic treatments covered by insurance?

When patients ask about dental insurance coverage, we tell them that most dental insurances will cover at least part of their procedure – and some even cover 100%.

The extent of coverage is based on your employer and your specific plan, but our office staff will work with you and help submit your paperwork.

We can also provide a pre-estimate to give you a clearer picture of your potential out-of-pocket cost.

What is an apicoectomy?

A patient may be having difficulty with a previously performed root canal that might become re-infected. Maybe there’s infection in a tooth on which you’ve had extensive restorative work. We can use a local surgery called an apicoectomy to help take care of that infection. We numb the area just as if you were having a regular root canal and, while looking through a microscope, work down from the top of the tooth, removing the source of infection and performing a reverse root canal.

What is a dental dam?

The purpose of a dental dam is to keep an area clean to prevent bacteria – even your own oral bacteria and saliva – from getting back inside your tooth. The intent is to disinfect the inside of your tooth by using the dam to isolate the tooth. It’s also beneficial if you are a gagger because nothing enters your mouth except your own saliva.

What are the success rates of root canals and crowns?

The success rate for root canal treatment is very high. When we complete treatment on a tooth that had no prior infection and was just beginning to show symptoms, a crown installed by your dentist will give you years – or even decades – of success with your tooth.

How can a dentist help with oral pain?

Teeth may hurt because of cavities that make them susceptible to cold, heat, or sweets. We can help determine why it hurts and find a way to relieve the pain. If there’s swelling, you might have an abscess, and we can eliminate the infection, returning you to your pain-free life.

How does oral health relate to my general health?

Physicians and researchers have conducted studies that reveal direct relationships between periodontal gum disease, heart disease and diabetes. Our bodies work interdependently. So if you’re unable to keep your mouth in its healthiest possible condition, it can actually affect other issues such as diabetes. It’s essential to see your dentist regularly and keep your mouth as healthy as possible.

Will antibiotics take care of a tooth infection?

The dental infection itself is really inside the tooth so, in order to solve the problem, we have to actually go inside that tooth and fix it. Antibiotics simply mask the symptoms and, if the problem isn’t fixed, it usually comes back worse than the first time.

Can a tooth infection cause an infection in my body?

The focal infection theory, which contemplates the possibility that a tooth infection can cause infection in the whole body, is a question that frequently appears online and in discourse at holistic centers.

Systems throughout our bodies are connected, and dental, oral, and periodontal infections can affect other aspects of the body – including heart conditions and diabetes.

Normally, however, a dental infection coming from a tooth is a localized infection. If left untreated, such infection can spread and become more generalized.

How did my tooth get infected in the first place?

One way or another, bacteria found its way inside your tooth and caused infection. There may be a crack in your tooth or you may have had trauma to your tooth. Cavities are caused by bacteria slowly working their way inside the tooth and causing problems. The tooth will become inflamed, and you might have a toothache or sensitivity when you drink ice cold water or eat ice cream or other sweets.

What are the main causes of tooth decay?

Diet and/or hygiene-related habits are the main causes of tooth decay. The best way to prevent tooth decay is to brush your teeth several times a day (with a toothpaste containing fluoride) and to floss one time every day. As much as possible, avoid items such as acidic foods, soft drinks and candy. Foods containing sugar feed bacteria and cause cavities.

Why should I see a dentist after losing a tooth?

If you dislodge a tooth and a dentist or an emergency room staff member replaces it, contact an endodontist within two weeks. The timing is very important because root canal therapy can both save the life of and ensure the health of that tooth.

Why would I need a root canal?

A lot of people ask, “Why can’t I just take an antibiotic and make the infection go away?” If you take an antibiotic, it will help your symptoms go away, but the problem is inside the tooth. The only way to fix the problem is to go inside the tooth with a root canal procedure. We can actually go in and take care of the problem once and for all.

How do I know I have a root canal problem?

The pressure of chewing your food may start to bother you more. Cold temperatures may cause pain, or the heat of your coffee may bother your teeth. Those issues may indicate a root canal problem and, if you notice lumps, or swelling, you should be examined.

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