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Specialty Dentistry

Find a dental specialist with Smile Design Dentistry in Central Florida. We offer endodontic treatment, periodontal services, and more.

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You’re likely to see a general dentist when you have any dental problem. Although general dentists are good at providing oral care, their services don’t match those of a specialty dentist.

Dental specialists have intimate knowledge in their area of specialization and can handle even complex cases. Currently, the American Dental Association recognizes various dental specialties, including endodontics, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and periodontics.

Therefore, if you have a more severe dental problem requiring special care, you might want to visit certified specialists, such as those at Smile Design Dentistry. Here is all you need to know about specialty dentistry.

Endodontics is a specialty dentistry that saves teeth through root canal surgery. Root canal procedures affect the tissues surrounding the roots of a tooth, and the interior dental pulp; therefore, if you need a root canal, you may require the services of an endodontist. The main concern of an endodontic specialist is to relieve discomfort while saving your natural teeth.

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure that involves the removal of the pulp, the soft center of the tooth. The pulp comprises connective tissues, blood vessels, and nerves that help the tooth grow. An endodontist administers local anesthesia before performing a root canal.
How to know if you need a root canal

If your pulp is injured or becomes infected or inflamed, you need a root canal. The tooth’s crown may remain solid even when the pulp is infected or dying. The best way to preserve the structure of your tooth is to get rid of injured pulp.

Additionally, if you notice sensitivity in your teeth, particularly to cold or hot sensations, you may require a root canal. Here are other signs you need a root canal:

Pimples on your gums
A chipped or cracked tooth
Severe pain while biting or chewing
Deep decay/darkening of the gums
Swollen or tender gums

How long does a root canal take?

An average root canal takes approximately 30-60 minutes. However, more complex cases may require more than 90 minutes. The duration of the procedure can depend on factors like the complexity of the tooth’s root system and the severity of the infection. Incisors and canines take the least time to undergo a root canal, for example, because they only have one root, while premolars (two roots) and molars (three roots) necessitate longer surgical times.

Particularly bad infections may require more than one visit to alleviate, and the addition of the crown may add another appointment to finish the procedure.

Does a root canal hurt?

Because a root canal is a major dental procedure, you may experience slight discomfort during the surgery. However, you shouldn’t feel any pain — in fact, according to the American Association of Endodontists, patients who undergo root canals are six times more likely to describe it as painless as those who have a tooth extracted!

The endodontist will use a general anesthetic to keep your teeth and the surrounding area numb.

You may feel some additional discomfort as the anesthetic wears off; over-the-counter medication should help ease any lingering inflammation.

What to eat after a root canal

You might be wondering if and what you can eat after a root canal. The good news is that you can eat after the procedure — however, you should wait until the numbness wears off, and you’ll want to stick to softer foods like soup, yogurt, smoothies, or mashed potatoes for the first few weeks. After that, watch your comfort levels and introduce solid foods when you can.

Avoid chewing or biting with the treated teeth. Instead, use the other side of your mouth to chew until your dentition has healed.

Endodontic Specialists

Periodontal Treatment

Periodontal disease is inflammation or infection of the bones and gums surrounding and supporting your teeth. It begins with gingivitis, which can cause the gums to become red and swollen, and sometimes bleed. If not treated in time, gingivitis can develop into periodontal disease, one of the biggest threats to dental health.

Periodontal disease is more common in adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 47.2% of adults 30 and older experience some form of periodontal disease.
Periodontal treatment mainly involves controlling the infection through various surgical and non-surgical means.

Non-surgical treatments, such as cleanings, scaling and root planing, focus on controlling the growth of the bacteria. On the other hand, surgical operations — which can range from tissue regeneration and flap surgery to bone grafts — attempt to restore the tissue supporting and surrounding the teeth.

Oral Surgery

Any surgical operation performed in or around your mouth — either on the jaw, teeth, or gums — is referred to as oral surgery. The surgery is often done by a dental specialist, trained and experienced in conducting specific types of oral surgeries. Oral surgery includes implants, extractions, gum drafts, and jaw surgeries.

Smile Design Dentistry offers a range of surgical options, performed by caring professionals dedicated to providing the highest quality service customized to your particular dental needs.

What to eat after oral surgery

After oral surgery, you want to steer clear of hard or crunchy foods to promote healing. Instead, eat soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, pasta, rice, and eggs.

You may want to try milkshakes and ice creams for a cool treat. Taking cold foods will help soothe and reduce pain around the surgical area.

Healing from oral surgery

The healing time for oral surgery varies from person to person. However, most patients will recover after around one week.

If the oral surgery is extensive, it may take a slightly longer period to heal. In addition, you might need some medication to keep you comfortable during the healing period.

Does Medicare cover oral surgery?

Traditional Medicare doesn’t cover routine dental care or oral surgery. However, Medicare may approve coverage for specific types of oral surgeries, particularly those considered medically necessary. Examples include:

Tooth extraction before radiation treatment for jaw cancer
Surgical repair of jaw injury or fracture
Oral examinations before a kidney transplant or heart valve replacement
Reconstruction of the jaw after a facial tumor removal

Specialty dentistry allows dentists to train and specialize in a particular field. This enables you to get extraordinary care from an experienced and qualified dental professional.

If you need a dental specialist trained and skilled in various specialties, look no further than Smile Design Dentistry. Make an appointment with us via our website to access endodontic treatment, periodontal services, and more.

Contact Us for a Consultation Today

Family-owned and operated, Smile Design provides personalized attention for each of our patients throughout the state of Florida. We believe in building a strong, trusting relationship with our patients and we’ll take the time to get to know you, listen to your concerns, and answer any questions you may have about your dental hygiene, oral health problems, the treatments our doctors recommend, and your smile appearance.

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