Intrinsic Stains

Patients at ProSmiles dental are assured of getting cosmetically-pleasing solutions for all their dental health problems. Most tooth stains do not constitute a threat to the patient’s health, but there are some which indicate a deeper problem. These are called intrinsic stains, and they may not be treatable with whitening.

Extrinsic stains are on the surface of the tooth and are acquired from smoking and drinking dark liquids, such as coffee and soda. But intrinsic stains are caused by something related to the dental pulp. It may just be that the patient was exposed to excessive amounts of fluoride or tetracycline antibiotics, which cause permanent teeth to develop with a blackish-purple color. These stains can simply be covered with veneers. But if the pulp is inflamed due to an infection, the patient is at risk of developing a severe tooth ache and a bad taste in their mouth. The body struggles to fight off dental infections on its own, and if the infection spreads, the patient could develop a facial abscess.

Root canals are necessary for removing inflamed dental pulp. Once it’s gone, the tooth will be sealed and can be given a veneer. However, it may be necessary to replace the whole crown, depending on the extent of the stain.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Root Tip Infection

At ProSmiles Dental, Dr. Lankupalli uses root canal therapies to save infected teeth and prevent a toothache from turning into a major threat to a patient’s health. But sometimes an infection goes beyond the pulpy inner chamber of a tooth and causes inflammation at the tip of its root. This is called a periapical abscess and may require a different approach.

When bacteria kill tissue, pus develops. An abscess is a pocket of tissue which contains the pus and bacteria. A periapical abscess cannot dispose of pus on its own and must be drained. Otherwise, the patient will remain in pain and experience fever and a persistent bad taste. Furthermore, an abscess may not be able to contain an infection forever, and if the infection spreads, the patient may suffer ulcers in their face and potentially deadly blood poisoning.

Root canals are the first line of defense for dealing with infected pulp. If they fail, Dr. Lankupalli may decide the patient needs an apicoectomy, which is the removal and replacement of a root tip. With the imaging equipment in our Fort Worth office, we can detect infections early, so it’s to our patients’ advantage to visit regularly.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.