First, a bit of embryology: While in utero, the dental pulp provides the cells to form hard tooth structure around itself. Unfortunately, after the teeth are formed, the pulp is more of a problem than an aid.
Once man created processed sugar during the industrial revolution, humans began to get tooth decay. Once decay, cracks or old fillings leak into the pulp of a tooth, the nerves and blood vessels die causing gangrene of the pulp; a dental abscess.
As the pressure builds up in the pulp chamber, the blood supply to the pulp is cut off like Kristi Ali at an all you can eat buffet, hindering the penetration of any antibiotics from getting in. The only treatment is to physically remove the dead tissue via “pulp extirpation”, also know as root canal therapy.
Often, your doctor of the mouth will prescribe an antibiotic, not to cure the abscess, but to help prevent the spread of the infection into the soft tissues of the face and jaw; what we call in the “biz” a cellulitis.
For over 10 years I have referred all my patients needing root canal treatment to Palm Beach Root Canal (www.palmbeachrootcanal.com), where top specialists in endodontics (root canal therapy) save teeth every day performing root canals painlessly through the same operating microscopes that neurosurgeons use.
Dr. Mitchel Josephs practices Cosmetic, Implant and General Dentistry in Palm Beach and hosts the “Tooth Talk” radio show live on Fridays at 11am and Tuesdays at 8:30am on WBZT AM1230. (www.radiotoothtalk.com) On staff at Good Samaritan Medical Center, Dr. Mitchell Josephs is on the Faculty Advisory Board at McGill University’s Faculty of Dentistry. Send questions to drjosephs@palmbeachdentist.com or call 888-DRTOOTH (888-378-6684) or visit www.palmbeachdentist.com
By Dr. Mitchell Josephs
Q: I have a bridge that I can’t floss, one of the anchor teeth looks gray at the gum line and I have a large gap underneath the dummy tooth. Can I remove the bridge and do an implant or is it too late?…
Q: I would like you to address how often dental X-rays should be taken. It seems like I am always getting X-rays. Ruth in Boynton.
Q: I have 10 upper porcelain laminate veneers on my upper front teeth that are about 10 years old. Unfortunately, due to a long time gum issue, I have to have one of my front teeth removed, and replaced with a dental implant. I am worried that the new tooth will not properly match my existing veneers. Should I be concerned?
Digital impressions vs. the goopy, gagging clay-like molds, have software that highlights the spots of the teeth in red that are to close to the opposing teeth. The digital models appear in 3-D on a computer screen, allowing the doctor to rotate the image and check for enough clearance and adjust, before sending the image to the lab. For a free 
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