Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is a method to save a severely decayed tooth that cannot support a traditional filling. However, at Dr. Keith Rudolph’s Family, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Dentistry, his experienced team offers root canal therapy using rotary endodontics, a special tool that makes the root canal process faster and more precise.

When bacteria invade the tooth, it can multiply and penetrate near the tooth’s nerves. This can cause sensitivity and pain at the tooth. This pain and discomfort is one signal that the decay is significant. After evaluating the tooth to determine if the tooth decay is significant enough, Dr. Rudolph may recommend a root canal. Root canal therapy can save an otherwise highly decayed tooth from extraction.

A root canal involves removing the infected tooth roots and nerves, cleaning the canals and filling the canals with antibacterial medications to reduce the likelihood infection will occur. After numbing the gum and tooth area, Dr. Rudolph will use a specialized tool using an electrical rotary hand piece. This hand piece benefits the patients by allowing the doctor to access the inner portion of the tooth more quickly. This reduces chair time for a patient, allowing them to return to their lives.

For more information on root canal therapy and rotary endodontics at Dr. Keith Rudolph’s Family, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Dentistry, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph by calling 203-930-1214.

White Composite Fillings

Everyone wants to have a nice, healthy smile. Even if you take great care of your teeth and do everything you can in order to prevent a cavity, it may occasionally develop. Dr. Keith Rudolph gives his Fairfield, CT patients the best options in dental fillings by using white composite fillings.

Dr. Rudolph and his experienced and knowledgeable staff want you to leave their office completely satisfied with your dental experience. In the past, fillings were often made of different metals including gold and silver. This type of filling is known as an amalgam filling. Although in some instances amalgam fillings may still be used, newer options exist, which look natural and improves a patient’s smile.

White composite fillings offer several advantages over other types of fillings. For instance, aesthetics are one of the major benefits of white composite fillings. Dr. Rudolph is able to blend colors together in order to match the shade of the tooth being filled and surrounding teeth. This creates a natural appearance and allows the filling to blend in, so it is not noticeable. Composite fillings also strengthen the integrity of the tooth.

With other types of fillings, it may be necessary to drill more in order to shape a space, which will securely hold the filling. Since the bonding process helps hold the filling in place, less drilling is involved. That means less time spent in the dental chair. In some instances, white composite filling can be used with other materials in order to get the best possible results.

For more information on white composite filling or other dental procedures offered by Dr. Keith Rudolph in Fairfield, CT call 203-930-1214. 

Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants are an effective and durable alternative to traditional dental implants. While dental implants are useful for many dental problems, mini implants are used for restoring missing, broken or infected teeth in narrow areas. Dr. Keith Rudolph utilizes this alternative treatment for patients do not qualify for traditional dental implants at his practice in Fairfield, CT.

Mini implants are about half the size in diameter of a regular dental implant and are composed of titanium. Since they are so small, mini implants are great for restoring small teeth, pre-molars and frontal teeth. One of the main functions of mini implants is for patients who lack the bone to support the larger size of conventional dental implants. Mini implants are also great when it comes to installing full upper or lower dentures. A series of mini implants, between four and six, will be places along the gum line and serve as the base of the denture.

Placement of mini dental implants is not surgical like traditional implants. The devices can be inserted right through the gum into the bone. Since the procedure is non-invasive, recovery time is much less than that of traditional dental implants. Dental implants need between three and six months to graft to the jawbone while mini implants can be completed in as little as one procedure. Mini implants are directly attached to the gum line rather than the jawbone.

Thanks to their durability, small size and affordability, mini dental implants are one of the best options for securing dentures and restoring teeth. To learn more about mini implants, as well as standard dental implants, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com. 

Sedation Options

If you have delayed going to the dentist because of fear, you are certainly not alone. Dental anxiety — or fear of the dentist — is common among many people. The sound of the drill or the smell of latex gloves is enough to get many dental patients running for the exit door. As a result, many patients put off going to the dentist for far too long, or worse, never go to the dentist. However, with recent studies linking some dental problems to serious and even life threatening conditions, it’s imperative to see your dentist regularly. The good news is sedation dentistry offered by Dr. Keith Rudolph at his Family, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Dentistry in Fairfield, CT makes the fear of the dentist a thing of the past.

Sedation dentistry is transforming the dental industry and closing the door on the myth that going to the dentist is a stressful, pain-stricken and otherwise traumatic experience. In order for dental procedures to be conducted with the least amount of anxiety and stress to the patient, sedation dentistry places the dental patient into a relaxed state. Also referred to as relaxation dentistry, dental patients can choose from a range of sedation levels, awareness, and relaxation states, depending on their anxiety level. Minimal and moderate sedation dentistry helps the patient relax, while being awake and aware. Deep sedation, on the other hand, puts the patient on the brim of consciousness. Lastly, Dr. Rudolph’s patients can choose general sedation, in which the patient is unaware of the dental procedure and is asleep.

For patients who suffer from dental anxiety, sedation dentistry and relaxation dentistry give our patients an opportunity to improve and maintain their dental health, in addition to having minor dental procedures performed before turning into more costly major procedures. Dr. Keith Rudolph, who has advanced training in sedation dentistry, believes that going to the dentist should not be a fearful experience. He urges patients to not put off addressing a dental concern and to consider sedation dentistry.

To understand more about sedation dentistry, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com or call 203-930-1214 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph.