Have you been experiencing a persistent toothache and bad breath? If so, your dental pulp may have become inflamed or infected, a condition that can cause mass damage to both your dental and general health. Fortunately, here in Flint, MI, periodontist Dr. Franklin Gordon Jr. gives people the precise care they need in this situation. Read on to learn more.

Frequently asked questions about root canal therapy

What is a root canal? Root canal therapy is a treatment that removes any damaged dental pulp from a tooth's central interior chamber and its adjoined roots. A sealant called gutta-percha is then used to seal the canals and inner chamber, with a porcelain crown afterward being used to cover and reinforce the remaining tooth structure above the gum line.

Does a root canal hurt? Performed with local anesthetic here at our Flint practice, this in-office procedure is comfortable and completely free of discomfort. As you heal at home afterward, you may eat a soft diet for a few days and take over-the-counter pain medication if the site is a bit sore. Despite a sometimes negative public perception, most of Dr. Gordon's patients find relief of all their symptoms relatively quickly.

What tells the dentist I need a root canal? Your symptoms, X-ray evidence, and the findings from a complete oral examination determine if the procedure is right for you.

Will my tooth look and feel normal? Yes, your tooth will look great and blend in with the color and shape of your other teeth. You'll be able to bite and chew well, and while the tooth may be a bit sensitive to pressure, this will normalize relatively quickly.

Can I brush and floss my restored tooth? Yes, please do! The American Dental Association recommends twice-daily brushing and once-daily flossing to keep all of your teeth and gums free of harmful plaque and tartar. Also, see your dentist semi-annually for a professional cleaning and check-up.

Bring other questions to Dr. Gordon

He'll be happy to answer them. If you are worried about a particular tooth, please call our office in Flint, MI, right away at (810) 230-0990.

Show your gum disease who’s boss. Here’s how to handle this common oral disorder.

Periodontal disease, or gum disease, occurs when plaque builds up under the gums. As the plaque hardens it causes the bacteria inside of it to multiply, which leads to inflammation and other potentially serious issues if left untreated. From the office of our Flint, MI, periodontist Dr. Frank Gordon, Jr., learn more about your treatment options and how to prevent gum disease from happening to you.

How do I know that I have gum disease?

Symptoms may be barely noticeable in the beginning; however, you may notice that your gums are inflamed, puffy, or tender to the touch. You may also notice that your gums bleed whenever you floss or brush your teeth. Bleeding gums is a classic warning sign that shouldn’t go ignored. If you are experiencing bleeding gums it’s time to schedule an appointment with our Flint, MI, periodontist.

How is gum disease treated?

Along with maintaining good oral hygiene your dentist may also recommend scaling and root planing, the most common treatment option for gum disease. This extreme deep cleaning goes under the gums and even removes plaque from the roots of the teeth. Depending on the severity of your gum disease, scaling, and root planing can be completed in one to two visits. You should come in at least every six months for scaling and root planing to maintain healthy gums.

There are also medicated rinses that your dentist might prescribe for you to use every day after brushing your teeth. Certain antimicrobial rinses, which are used in the same way as regular mouthwash, can reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. Sometimes antibiotics may also be prescribed.

During scaling and root planing your periodontist may place little antibiotic fibers into pockets within the gums, which will slowly release antibiotics into these areas to kill the bacteria. Conversely, antibiotics may also be taken orally (for more persistent infections) or applied topically.

If you are looking for a dentist who can help you manage your gum disease or if you are experiencing changes in the health of your gums, don’t hesitate to call our Flint, MI, dental office today.

Find out what your toothache is trying to tell you about the health of your smile.

Are you dealing with a nagging, burning, or sharp pain in a tooth? If so, it’s important that you turn to our Flint, MI, endodontist, Dr. Franklin Gordon, Jr. right away. After all, a toothache is a dental emergency, and the sooner the problem is addressed, the better. If a toothache isn’t treated you could end up losing the tooth altogether!

Why am I dealing with a toothache?

A toothache occurs when the nerves inside the tooth are irritated. This is a telltale sign that there is bacteria present inside the tooth. The tooth’s nerve is housed within a structure known as the dental pulp. While a toothache could simply mean that you are dealing with a cavity, if the pulp is inflamed or infected, it will need to be removed. Luckily, you’ll be relieved to hear that you will no longer feel pain once the pulp is removed. Some patients even experience immediate relief after a root canal!

Do I need root canal treatment?

If you are dealing with any of these symptoms, it’s time to visit our Flint, MI, endodontic specialist right away:

• A severe toothache
• Dental pain that gets worse when biting down or putting pressure on the tooth
• Prolonged tooth sensitivity
• Darkening of the tooth
• Gum swelling or pain around the affected tooth
• A bump or growth on the gums near the tooth (known as an abscess)

These are all warning signs that you may need root canal treatment and it’s important not to ignore them. The sooner you seek proper treatment and have the affected pulp removed, the better your smile's health will be.

What happens during a root canal?

During this treatment, we will go inside the tooth to remove the pulp and to clean out any bacteria inside the tooth and the root canals. Once the tooth has been disinfected, it’s time to seal up the root canals to prevent bacteria from getting inside and causing another infection.

The canals are filled with a rubber-like material known as gutta-percha. After the tooth has been treated we will fit you with a permanent crown, which will restore functionality and strength back into the weakened tooth.

Need relief? Give us a call!

If you are dealing with a toothache, gum disease, or a cracked tooth, we offer full endodontic and periodontic services in Flint, MI, to handle all of your dental needs. Call us right away at (810) 230-0990 to get the immediate care you deserve!

Gum disease presents a significant risk to a patient’s dental health and could exacerbate other health conditions. Yet and still, close to half of American adults are living with this condition according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Know the dangers of gum disease, treatment options, and how you can avoid this oral health problem with the help of Dr. Frank Gordon in Flint, MI.

What Is Gum Disease?
When most people think of oral diseases that need to be treated by a dentist, they think of the decay and inflammation that can happen inside of a tooth. But another concerning form of oral disease is called gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis). It causes the slow deterioration of the bone tissue and the recession of gum tissue. Most cases of gum disease are caused by poor oral hygiene (namely, lack of flossing) and some dental experts believe it may run in families.

Dangers of Gum Disease
Gum disease, untreated, can eventually cause affected teeth to loosen. The bacteria can eliminate whole areas of bone over time. It can cause the deterioration of several teeth in the quadrants of the mouth, or all of them. In some cases, the dentist will recommend extracting the teeth before the infection can spread.

Gum Disease Treatments
Trust that your Flint, MI dentist will be able to suggest conservative treatments if you visit the office at the first signs of gum disease. Those treatments include:

- Scaling and root planing.
- Periodontal laser treatment (heat from the laser targets bad tissue while preserving good tissue).
- Antibiotic therapies to keep bad bacteria under control.
- Gum and bone grafting (to rebuild bone tissue).
- Dental implants to permanently replace teeth that are beyond treatment.

Schedule a Gum Examination
When you notice the potential signs of gum disease, visit the dentist’s office for a confirmed diagnosis and early treatment. Call (810) 230-0990 today to schedule your visit with Dr. Frank Gordon at his office in Flint, MI.

What your dentist in Flint wants you to know

Why does your tooth hurt? That’s a good question, and the answer may not be obvious. That’s why it’s important to seek out the help of an expert at the first sign of tooth pain. Dr. Frank L. Gordon Jr. in Flint, MI, is both a periodontist and an endodontist, so he is an expert on the causes and treatment of tooth pain.

Decay is often a cause of tooth pain. Decay is caused by bacterial acid from the sugary foods and beverages you eat or drink. The acid eats away at your hard tooth enamel, penetrating into the soft layer underneath, the dentin. You won’t always experience pain with tooth decay, which is why it’s so vital to visit your dentist yearly for an exam and x-rays to diagnose tooth decay early. Pain from tooth decay can usually be eliminated with a dental filling or crown.

If tooth decay is not treated early, the decay can progress to the innermost layer of your tooth, where the nerves and blood supply are located. This area is known as the pulp chamber. Once decay penetrates into the pulp, your tooth can become badly inflamed and very painful. You may experience sudden, sharp pain or aching when you eat or drink hot or cold foods and beverages, or you may notice increasing pressure and pain. You may also notice a white or red bump on your gums, a sign the tooth has abscessed. Pain from pulp damage can usually be eliminated with root canal therapy.

Tooth pain isn’t always related to tooth decay. In fact, there are many causes of tooth pain, including:

• Grinding your teeth at night; pain associated with night grinding can often be treated by wearing a nightguard.
• Exposed tooth roots due to periodontal disease or gum recession; you may benefit from protective tooth-colored fillings placed on the roots, or gum grafts to cover up exposed areas.
• Abrasion or erosion due to hard toothbrush use, acidic foods, or bad habits; a bonding treatment or filling can often eliminate sensitivity by protecting the tooth surface.

There are many causes of tooth pain, which is why it’s important to seek out an expert for an accurate diagnosis. A good outcome depends on early diagnosis and early treatment. At the first sign of tooth pain, just pick up the phone and call Dr. Gordon in Flint, MI. Don’t wait for tooth pain to become unbearable, call today!