Endodontic Services

Root canal therapy.

Dr. Tony Rainwater has performed over 14,000 root canals, so you know you’re in the best of hands. With this procedure, he gently removes the infected or inflamed pulp and then carefully shapes and sterilizes the inside of the canal with nickel-titanium instruments. Dr. Rainwater uses the state-of-the-art Root ZX® apex locator to aid in determining the precise location of the root end; it also minimizes the number of digital X-rays required during treatment.

The canal is then filled and sealed with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. In addition, his ultrasonic equipment features diamond-coated tips, the small size of which preserves the tooth’s structure and provides more precise treatment.

Dr. Rainwater can perform most root canals in a single visit. The more difficult cases might require a second appointment. Once your root canal therapy has been completed, he will send a written report to your referring dentist. You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until your dentist provides you with a permanent restoration.

Root canal retreatment.

Although extremely rare, a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy could become painful or diseased months or even years later. For these cases, Dr. Rainwater performs root canal retreatment.

Apicoectomy.

This procedure is performed when a tooth does not respond to root canal therapy or retreatment. Dr. Rainwater first makes a tiny incision in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. He then removes the root end, sterilizes the area and seals it to prevent reinfection.

Apexification.

This is the treatment of an immature tooth to produce more favorable conditions for root canal therapy. With it, Dr. Rainwater removes the unhealthy pulp and places a collagen-based material called CollaCote® into the root, which forms a solid barrier at the root tip. The tooth can then be sealed and finished during the same visit.

Other Endodontic Services.

Dr. Rainwater treats resorption (loss of bone, cementum and/or dentin) and trauma such as tooth fractures or avulsion (“knocked-out” tooth). He also performs intracoronal whitening. This special whitening technique can turn up the brightness of nonvital teeth that are discolored due to inflamed pulp tissue or from staining agents that are present in the pulp chamber.

To learn more about root canal or our other services, please call our Lafayette endodontic office at (337) 233-7113 or use our online appointment request form.