Let’s be honest: visiting the dentist isn’t a priority for most people. In fact, many patients wait until they experience pain to make an appointment. A dental cavity, an infection of the hard exterior of the tooth, is the most common infection worldwide. A tooth begins to hurt when the cavity penetrates the inner hard layer called dentin and causes inflammation in the living part of the tooth known as the pulp. The larger the dental cavity, the bigger the dental problem. Some cavities become so extensive that patients receive the grim diagnosis of needing a root canal. Fortunately, there may be an alternative solution.
The dental “pulp cap” is not a new procedure. The earliest pulp caps were performed with gold foil in the mid-1700s. Then, in the 1920s, zinc oxide and calcium hydroxide were used. These early materials were very irritating to the live pulp of the tooth, causing “irritative” healing, an unpredictable process with mixed results. A breakthrough came in the 1990s with the introduction of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA), a dental-grade cement that served as the precursor to today’s modern dental bioceramics. Think of a pulp cap as a biological bandage for the dental pulp. With proper isolation and preparation, the appropriate dental bioceramic can be applied to the tooth, aiding in the regeneration of new dentin over the damaged, exposed pulp. These highly biocompatible bioceramics are antimicrobial and biologically compatible, aiding the pulp’s stem cells in forming new dentin. Remember, it is not only about the material used but also how it is used.
Dr. Etess has been performing dental pulp caps with great success for over 18 years, with a success rate that continues to climb as he incorporates new materials and updates his modern techniques. These include dental ozone, lasers, and biomimetic dentistry — all part of his proven proprietary dental pulp capping procedure aimed at preventing the need for root canals and preserving the health and vitality of the tooth.
Many teeth are candidates for a pulp cap, even when other dentists say otherwise. At Integrative Dental Specialists, Dr. Etess and his team pride themselves on delivering cuttingedge dental care to save your teeth. Every patient receives the professional attention they deserve, along with the highest level of dental expertise, executed with great skill and precision. We set the highest treatment standards to achieve phenomenal results for our patients. By implementing leading-edge dental protocols, our practice offers what other dentists cannot.
There is nothing superior to preserving your natural teeth, so it is essential to do everything you can to maintain them. Using exclusive rehabilitative and dental biomimetic restorative procedures, problematic teeth can be restored and rejuvenated to normal, healthy function. Dental patients often believe that dentistry is universally the same from practice to practice, which is far from the truth. Undoing incorrect and poor dentistry can be extremely problematic for the patient, making it crucial to get dental treatment right the first time.
Staying at the forefront of dental advancements is a top priority for Dr. Etess. To provide our patients with the most sanitary environment, we employ enhanced ultraviolet air and surface disinfection protocols. Not all dental practices are the same. Dr. Etess prides himself on delivering unmatched, first-rate care, adhering to the highest standards. Excuses are no longer acceptable. If you seek the finest, safest, healthiest and most predictable results for your dental issues, supported by the latest technology, contact Integrative Dental Specialists to schedule an appointment with Dr. Etess today.
Jeffrey Etess, DMD, NMD, IBDM, graduated in the top 10% from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. An IVY LEAGUE trained Certified Endodontic Specialist/ Implant Specialty Surgeon with a dual degree in Dentistry and Board Certified in Naturopathic & Integrative medicine & certified in biomimetic cosmetic dentistry to provide a broad array of biological dentistry covering all facets of restorative, cosmetic, prosthetic, surgical, endodontic, pediatric, periodontal, and implant dentistry for his patients for over 26 years.
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