Endodontic Services

The center of your tooth contains nerves and blood vessels called “the pulp.” Infection or damage to the pulp can occur for many reasons including deep decay, trauma, cracks, and dental procedures. Symptoms of pulpal damage typically present as pain or sensitivity to cold or hot or pain upon chewing. A root canal procedure is where the pulp is removed and cleaned and then replaced with a filling material. It is a simple treatment that can save your natural tooth and thereby prevent the need for an implant or bridge.

After your root canal treatment is completed at Hometown Endodontics, a record and radiographs of the procedure will be sent to your general dentist. You will return to your general dentist for the final restoration or crown. ​

Sometimes a root canal treatment does not heal well the first time it is performed or the tooth becomes re-infected. This is typically due to complex root anatomy or a missed extra canal.

In many cases, endodontic retreatment can be performed where the inside of each canal is cleaned or cleaned again for a second time. The prognosis will depend on the condition of the tooth prior to endodontic retreatment.

We evaluate each and every tooth and develop a specialized treatment plan for your diagnosis. After endodontic retreatment is completed, a record of the procedure will be sent to your general dentist. You will then return to your general dentist for the final restoration or crown.

Typically, a root canal is all that is required to save a tooth with an injured pulp. There are very few cases, however, where this non-surgical procedure is not sufficient to heal the tooth, and surgery is recommended. Endodontic surgery can be used to locate cracks, fractures, or additional canals that are not visible on x-rays but can still cause pain in the tooth.. The most common surgery performed to save damaged teeth is an apicoectomy or root-end resection.

​An apicoectomy is a simple procedure where an incision is made in the gum to expose the bone and inflamed tissue. The infected or inflamed tissue is then removed along with a small section of the root tip. A filling is then placed in the end of the root to prevent reinfection of the root and the gums are put back into place with a few sutures. The bone around the root then heals and allows for restoration of the natural tooth.

Dr. Epkey has received extensive training in the latest treatment option in endodontics. Regenerative endodontic therapy is a biologically based procedure designed to replace damaged dentin and root structure as well as cells of the pulp-dentin complex through the use of stem cells.

​Stem cells are different from other cells in the body because they regenerate and produce specialized cell types. They heal and restore skin, bones, cartilage, muscles, nerves, and other tissues when injured. With the discovery of stem cells in teeth, an available source of stem cells has been identified.

Regenerative endodontic therapy will soon become the standard of care for the treatment of immature roots. This procedure revitalizes or revascularizes previously necrotic (dead) pulpal tissue and allows the immature tooth to complete its development. Regenerative endodontics is a cutting-edge treatment that is at the forefront of tissue engineering in dentistry.

Whether your tooth cracks from an injury or general wear and tear, you can experience a variety of symptoms ranging from erratic pain when you chew your food to sudden pain when your tooth is exposed to very hot or cold temperatures. In many cases, the pain may come and go and your dentist may have difficulty locating the tooth causing the discomfort. If you experience these symptoms or suspect a cracked tooth, it’s best to see an endodontist as soon as possible.