Stephen H. Hook

Simply put, root canal treatment eliminates infection and promotes healing around a tooth that has a dead or dying nerve. When the pulp dies the tissue become "gangrenous" (as in gangrene) and thereby becomes a health risk rather than an asset.

When root canal treatment is successful the dead tissue

No. Some dentures are cemented in place by the dentist and are commonly known as "bridges" but technically they are "fixed partial dentures". Now, this technical language is probably not too important to the average lay person, but it should always be remembered that the technical precision and e

Just as a painter needs brushes as well as rollers to do his job and a chef needs carving knives as well as paring knives to do their work, you will need dental floss and a toothbrush and perhaps even other dental tools to thoroughly cleanse your mouth. The inaccessible areas between the teeth are

I prefer that my complete denture patients see me once a year. At this visit I check the dentures for proper fit and repair. We clean the dentures thoroughly in the laboratory with an ultrasonic cleaner and polish the surfaces with acrylic polish. Of course I make any adjustments, repairs or corr

A dentist will select silver amalgam as a filling material because it is the best choice among the available alternatives. Silver fillings have advantages and disadvantages that make them better choices in some cases based on many different standards such as reliability, strength, cost, esthetics,

Denture adhesives should not be used unless they are absolutely necessary for the security and function of the prosthesis and then not routinely if possible. A well-made prosthesis should have some stability and retention without using excess amounts of adhesive. The overuse of adhesive is a major cause of

No, I would classify root canals as normal complications of dental treatment. If not treated at an early stage, these complications could become dental emergencies. Rarely, a tooth nerve will die and require root canal treatment for no apparent reason, but almost always the likelihood for the root canal

Dental sealants create a barrier through which the bacteria and the biofilm (saliva) cannot penetrate. The sealants are used in the cracks and crevices on the biting surfaces of the back teeth that are impossible for you to keep clean. Since our American diet, especially children's, is rich in refined

"Doctor it hurts when I touch here."  My glib reply of course is "well then don't touch there!"  Since the majority of root canals stem from traumatic insult to the tooth the best way to prevent the need for root canal treatment is to avoid traumatizing the tooth in the first place. With the exception of a

The acidic waste products released by bacteria from digesting the food left in your mouth concentrate in the areas that are difficult for you to clean. The longer the acid persists the more damage it does to the surface of the tooth. The tooth starts out perfectly hard and very smooth but after prolonged e

This question can't be answered fully in the 2500 word limit allotted here!  Most of the risk factors are local ones such as diet and hygiene, which many of you may already be familiar with. I will discuss these in a slightly different manner. First of all, if a person loses their ability to keep their mouth

Anyone who has teeth. If you are older than 6 months chances are pretty good that this includes you. The mouth is not a sterile environment. It will always have some nutrients for bacteria to feed on and if the bacteria can organize in the biofilm on your teeth and form plaque, then there is a chance for decay.