Root canals get a bad rap. Mention to someone that you need to get a root canal, and they’ll usually look sad (or horrified) and say how sorry they are. That’s because many people don’t realize that root canals have become a modern, quick, and painless procedure that allows you to keep both your affected tooth and your smile.
Dr. Greg Semashko of Endodontics in Cranberry has been performing root canals, root canal re-treatments, and endodontic surgery for more than 25 years. As an endodontist, Dr. Semashko specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and the treatment of diseases of the tooth’s pulp, as well as the surrounding tissues of the tooth and roots.
Dr. Semashko and His Team
“The advances that root canal therapy has gone through in the past 25 years have been amazing. The procedure has become faster, more accurate, and it’s painless. In fact, for most patients, it’s not much different than getting a cavity,” said Dr. Semashko.
Dr. Semashko is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Dental Medicine, Department of Endodontics, where he teaches endodontic residents. He has also been named one of the top dentists in Pittsburgh by Pittsburgh Magazine. His patient philosophy is simple: treat each patient as a person who deserves great care, a comfortable environment, and supportive staff members.
Improvements in root canal procedures, equipment, and anesthesia, plus high-quality dental school and endodontics programs, have revolutionized the world of endodontics. Instead of having a problem tooth pulled – or putting off getting a root canal because you’re worried about the pain – you should instead be evaluated by an endodontist.
“A root canal is often used to save a tooth that otherwise would have to be pulled. I know that lots of people, especially those over the age of 50, probably don’t think of having a tooth pulled is harmful. It used to be a pretty common way of dealing with a tooth that had undergone trauma. However, having a tooth pulled means that you’ll need a partial denture so that your surrounding teeth don’t begin to drift into the gap caused when the tooth was removed. A pulled tooth affects your chewing and speech, too,” explained Dr. Semashko.
This treatment begins with anesthesia that completely blocks any discomfort. The endodontist will use high-tech equipment to view and clean out the tooth’s diseased pulp from the root canals, replace them with a special antibacterial material, and then prepare the tooth to be fitted with a crown, which is usually done by the patient’s general dentist. Your tooth, once crowned, will look and feel just like your regular tooth, and you’ll be able to chew and speak normally.
If your general dentist has told you that you may need a root canal, give Endodontics in Cranberry a call today. Their office is warm and inviting, and they concentrate on patient care.