It is Dr. Nancy Snyder’s goal for you to have all of your oral health care needs met under one roof at Fort Oglethorpe Dental. Whether you need routine oral health care through general dentistry services, or have a targeted problem involving a specific area of your mouth, Dr. Snyder wants Fort Oglethorpe Dental to be your one-stop shop for comprehensive dental care. She hopes that by treating multiple problems in one office, you can avoid the inconvenience of traveling to multiple offices to address different dental needs. If you have been told by another dentist that you need periodontal care or endodontic treatment (e.g., a root canal), you can have these problems treated at Fort Oglethorpe Dental.
Understanding Periodontics
Periodontics is the branch of dentistry that diagnoses, treats and prevents problems affecting the gum tissues and other tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. Periodontal (gum) disease is a serious threat not only to the gum tissue, but also to the health and integrity of the teeth. Advanced gum disease destroys the tissues supporting the teeth and can cause them to loosen and even fall out.
Gum disease can affect the entire body as well. The connection between periodontal disease and other serious systemic diseases like heart disease and stroke has been well-documented.
Dr. Snyder and her team can treat any form of gum disease, ranging from its mild form (gingivitis) to its more serious form (periodontitis).
Common Periodontal Treatments
Dr. Snyder and our hygienists check for signs of gum disease during every dental check-up and exam. Mild to moderate forms of gum diseases are normally treated with a deep cleaning or a scaling and root planing procedure. If those treatments don’t reverse the problem, medication and other solutions may be recommended. If the gum disease is quite advanced, to the point that it has destroyed gum tissue and bone tissue, regenerative procedures may be performed to reverse bone and tissue loss.
Understanding Endodontics
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that involves diagnosing and treating problems with the interior tooth structure (i.e., the dental “pulp”). If the inner tissue of the tooth becomes infected, due to tooth decay, chips, cracks or trauma to the tooth, it can jeopardize the tooth and possibly require it to be extracted.
Common Endodontic Treatment: Root Canal Therapy
The most common endodontic treatment is root canal therapy, which is performed to save a severely infected tooth from extraction. During the procedure, a small opening is made in the tooth to access the infected dental pulp, or the soft connective tissue containing nerves and blood vessels. The infected tissue is removed and the inner chambers of the tooth are cleaned and sealed with a special material to prevent future infection. Then, a crown or another dental restoration is placed over the tooth to protect it.
Learn More about Periodontal and Endodontic Treatment
For more information about periodontal or endodontic treatment, including root canal therapy, we invite you to contact Fort Oglethorpe Dental. Please call or email us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Snyder and our team.