Dr. Alex Shvartsman
631-361-3577
SmithtownSmiles.com
When most dentists see a deep cavity in a tooth, they usually recommend root canal therapy, even on teeth where the nerve is still healthy and vital. They are not wrong, since every former technique to preserve nerve vitality has been unpredictable at best. Fortunately, today we have entered a new era in preserving healthy nerves despite how deep the cavity is. By using innovative new procedures, materials and technology, Dr. Alex Shvartsman has had a 95 percent success rate in avoiding root canal therapy for his patients
The first critical step is to assess the vitality of the nerve inside the tooth.
If the nerve has not been contaminated by bacteria from a long-standing cavity and the nerve is not irreversibly inflamed, Shvartsman’s vital ozone nerve therapy is a predictable treatment option to avoid root canal therapy. The key to success is creating a bacterial-free environment that allows the body to heal and recuperate
Once the nerve vitality is confirmed, all the decay is removed from the tooth except the very last bit that is next to the nerve.
Shvartsman uses a new generation of ceramic drills to selectively remove tooth decay and leave all the healthy tooth structure intact. Preserving healthy tooth structure is a core tenet of Shvartsman’s minimally invasive tooth-preserving philosophy. The last remaining portion of tooth decay is treated with ozone gas fumigation. An innovative device is used to scan the tooth and determine if all the bacteria in the softened part of the tooth is obliterated. The device gives Shvartsman a visual as well as a numerical confirmation. patients really appreciate seeing the progression and final disinfection on the TV screen!
Following ozone decay disinfection, the sterilized soft dentin is covered by a revolutionary new material, which has been under development in Japan for more than 10 years and is finally available in the U.S. This material feeds the building blocks of tooth structure to the softened dentin, helping the tooth to re-harden (re-mineralize). The days of removing all the decay at the expense of nerve vitality are a thing of the past. This technique has greatly minimized the need for root canal therapy, and additional dentistry such as posts and crowns. The tooth is then adhesively sealed and restored with a biomimetic resin-composite tooth-colored filling. By using materials that mimic the natural structure of the tooth, Shvartsman’s tooth restorations work in harmony with the tooth.
Unfortunately, vital ozone nerve therapy does not work in infected or abscessed teeth where the nerve is necrotic, or teeth where the nerve is chronically and irreversibly inflamed. In these cases, the person just waited too long to seek treatment. But don’t despair, today it is possible to save infected teeth using Shvartsman’s biologic root canal protocol, which will be presented in the next issue of NewLife Magazine.
