Dr. Lea, Dr. Smithson, and Dr. Studebaker and their staff are dedicated to your total comfort and satisfaction. When you come in for your appointment, you will be greeted with a smile and made to feel right at home. The spacious reception room features a variety of current publications and there is also work from local artists on display.
Dr. Lea, Dr. Smithson, and Dr. Studebaker will review your referral form (if you were referred by your general dentist) and your health history. Digital X-rays will then be taken. These use significantly less radiation than traditional X-rays, making them the obvious choice for safety. Next, your treatment options will be explained in simple, easy-to-understand terms. Our experienced team will then present you with a written estimate for treatment that includes your insurance benefits.
Dr. Lea, Dr. Smithson, and Dr. Studebaker provide today’s most advanced endodontic procedures in the Seattle, Washington area to help preserve teeth that have an infected or inflamed pulp. Causes of infection or inflammation include trauma, deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth or a crack or chip in the tooth. If left untreated, these can cause pain or lead to tooth abscess or tooth loss.
Dr. Lea, Dr. Smithson, and Dr. Studebaker use today’s state-of-the-art endodontic advances, including the Global Surgical™ microscope, electronic apex locators (to aid in determining the precise location of the root end), virtually silent hand pieces, diamond-coated ultrasonic equipment and nickel-titanium files. Their experienced dental assistants also use the surgical microscope to “see what they see” and get the necessary endodontic tools and materials to them quickly throughout your treatment. Ultimately, this means more efficient treatment and less time in the dental chair.
With this procedure, Dr. Lea, Dr. Smithson, and Dr. Studebaker gently remove the infected or inflamed pulp and then carefully shape and sterilize the inside of the canal. The canal is then filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha and a temporary (or permanent) filling is placed. You will then return to your general dentist to have a permanent tooth restoration (filling, onlay or crown) placed. Our doctors can perform most root canals in a single visit.
In some cases, a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy could become painful or diseased months or even years later. For these cases, Dr. Lea, Dr. Smithson, and Dr. Studebaker perform root canal retreatment.
This procedure is performed when a tooth does not respond to root canal therapy or retreatment. With apicoectomy, Dr. Lea, Dr. Smithson, and Dr. Studebaker enter through the bottom end of the root and gently remove the root tip and the surrounding infected tissue. The area is then sterilized and sealed to prevent reinfection.
Dr. Lea, Dr. Smithson, and Dr. Studebaker treat resorption (loss of bone, cementum and/or dentin) and trauma such as tooth fractures or avulsion (“knocked-out” tooth). They also perform 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.
Dr. Lea, Dr. Smithson, and Dr. Studebaker believe the best endodontic care is collaborative in nature. They will provide your general dentist with a written report once your procedure is complete. In addition, our doctors will make themselves available to discuss your case with your dentist, if needed.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call our office at 206-633-3636 today!