NavigationPulp Therapy
The dental pulp is a soft tissue organ located in the inner chamber of the tooth and extends through each root connecting with soft tissue and vessels beyond the tooth. The pulp is comprised of blood vessels, nerves, lymphatic vessels and cells. The pulp can become injured or infected through trauma (impact or fracture), caries (decay) or a variety of episodes resulting in irritation of the pulp. When the dental pulp becomes inflamed, infected, necrotic, or exposed (to the oral environment), one or more available treatment procedures must be in instituted. Treatment procedures may include: (a) pulp capping, (b) pulp therapy, (c) pulpotomy, (d) endodontic therapy (see Root Canal Threatment below), or extraction of the tooth. Pulp Therapy (also referred to as Vital Pulp Therapy) is the treatment of the dental pulp in order to maintain or restore health to the pulp. When the pulp is infected* or necrotic, root canal therapy or extraction of the tooth are the only treatment options. Typically, however, teeth exhibiting (a) moderate sensitivity or pain, (b) signs of inflammation of the pulp, or (c) moderate to large exposure of the pulp, have also been relegated to root canal treatment or extraction of the tooth. Dr. Livaditis advocates the treatment of inflamed or injured dental pulps in lieu of root canal treatment. He introduced to the profession additional concepts and procedures to enable the preservation or restoration of health to the dental pulp. By removing the cause of the inflammation, by immediately and artificially restoring the protective covering of the pulp (dentin) and by restoring the integrity of the external tooth surface, Dr. Livaditis provides the dental pulp an opportunity to return to health.
When presented with a tooth that is sensitive to various stimuli or affected by trauma or decay, Dr. Livaditis will evaluate the restorability of the tooth and the health of the dental pulp and will review all options available to you.
* the term infected refers to the medical description of the term and not merely to “bacterially contaminated.”
  The mal-formed lateral incisor (left) required significant reduction with anticipated pulp exposure for the planned crown (right). The pulp was asymptomatic and vital. Vital pulp therapy using bipolar coagulation (lower left) and an immediate long-term pulp barrier (lower right) was applied. (By Dr. Livaditis) |
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Endodontic Therapy (Root Canal Treatment)
Endodontics (root canal therapy) is the removal of an infected, necrotic or traumatized pulp followed by filling and sealing of the pulp space. (The dental pulp comprises the blood vessels, nerves and other soft tissue within the crown and root portions of the tooth.)
Endodontic therapy has enabled patients to keep teeth that would otherwise be destined for extraction. The restorative dentist or prosthodontist plays a vital role prior to and following endodontic therapy. Dr. Livaditis prefers to evaluate a patient who may have need for endodontic therapy. He will ascertain that the particular tooth can be properly restored before referring the patient for endo treatment. In many cases, caries (decay) will be removed and the tooth will be restored with an interim material enabling the endodontist to more effectively treat the tooth. Dr. Livaditis and staff will explain the procedures involved, coordinate the referral for endodontic therapy and create the final restoration of the tooth upon completion of the endodontic procedure.
