What Is An Apicoectomy?

At Evans Dental Care we preform many root canals to save teeth that are badly damaged or infected.  During a root canal a dentist removes any inflamed or infected tissue, and thoroughly cleans the root canal system. In about 90% of cases, the tooth heals and doesn’t require further treatment. When an infection won’t go away or the canals become re-infected after root canal treatment, our doctors can perform an apicoectomy.

An apicoectomy is also called a root-end resection and is performed to remove damaged tissue and seal a tooth’s root from any further infections.  The procedure involves a small incision in the gums, followed by removal of any infected tissue and finally the end of the root tip itself.  A root-end filling is placed there to act as a seal, preventing reinfection. The gum is sutured, and most patients only feel slight discomfort or swelling during healing.  If you have a tooth infection lingering after a root canal gone wrong, please contact us to discuss your treatment options.

To learn more about the apicoectomy procedure and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.evansdentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, VA, call 757-349-8877.

Dental Bonding

Bonding can be used to correct cracks or gaps in teeth. In relation to dentistry, the definition of bonding is the application of a tooth-colored composite resin (plastic) to repair a decayed, chipped, fractured or discolored tooth. With the advancements in dental technology, Dr. Peter Evans DDS, of Evans Dental Care can apply dental bonding that may last for over 10 years with proper oral care.

Dental bonding is among the easiest and least expensive of cosmetic dental procedures and very little preparation is needed in advance for the treatment. Anesthesia isn’t necessary unless the bonding is being used to fill a decayed tooth. Dental bonding takes about 30 to 60 minutes per tooth to complete. Because bonding material can chip, it is important to avoid such habits as biting fingernails and chewing on pens, ice or other hard food objects. Tea, coffee, cigarette smoke, and other substances can stain the resin used in bonding.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental bonding or cosmetic services, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.evansdentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, VA, call 757-349-8877.

Periodontal Maintenance

In its most advanced stages, gum disease can lead to gum recession, and even tooth loss.  Evans Dental Care wants to make sure it never gets to that point for you and your family!  When plaque builds up on a tooth, the gum starts to pull away from the tooth and form a pocket around the buildup, which only leads to more gum recession.  A scaling and root planing procedure is used to treat this buildup and prevent the later stages of gum disease.

Scaling and root planning are two parts of a deep cleaning procedure your dentist can perform to help reverse the progress of gum disease.  The procedure beings with scaling, which is the process of the dentist removing plaque from the surface of the teeth, all the way down to the gums. Root planing is the term for any minor contouring to smooth the surface of a tooth near the root.  When plaque has been removed and the tooth root has been smoothed, the gums that have pulled away will have a clean, smooth surface to reattach to as they heal.

To learn more about deep periodontal cleaning and the other services we provide, visit www.evansdentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at Evans Dental Care in Williamsburg, VA, call 757-349-8877.