The Root Canal Procedure

When a tooth’s nerve tissue or pulp is damaged, it breaks down and bacteria begin to multiply within the pulp chamber. Before the bacteria can cause an infection or an abscessed tooth, Dr. Charles Crouch of Summit Dental Group will perform a root canal. A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. If you’ve been told that a root canal is right for you, we’d like to explain the process to make you feel calmer about the procedure itself.

The root canal procedure itself requires one or more office visits and can be performed right here in the office. The first step in the procedure is to take an X-ray to see the shape of the root canals and determine if there are any signs of infection in the surrounding bone. Once anesthesia is administered, Dr. Crouch will make an opening in the crown of the tooth. Very small instruments are used to clean the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals and to shape the space for filling. After the empty space is cleaned and shaped, your dentist will fill the root canals with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. In most cases, a temporary filling is placed to close the opening. There may be some soreness after the procedure, but that is perfectly normal.

If you have a damaged tooth and would like to discuss your treatment options, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.summitdentalgroupllc.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Charles Crouch of Summit Dental Group call our Fort Worth, TX, office at 817-294-8505. 

What is Sedation Dentistry?

In spite of the dental technology that has made dentistry virtually pain-free, dental fear and anxiety still keep millions of patients away from the dental office every year. Here at Summit Dental Group, Dr. Charles Crouch wants to ensure that you are relaxed as humanly possible, which is why he offers sedation dentistry to patients who are eligible.

There are several types of sedation dentistry to treat different levels of dental anxiety, each putting you in varied states of relaxation. The levels of sedation used include:

• Minimal sedation – where you are awake but relaxed.


• Moderate sedation – you may slur your words when speaking and not remember much of the procedure.


• Deep sedation – you are on the edge of consciousness but can still be awakened.


• General anesthesia – you are completely unconscious.

Anesthesia is generally safe, but there is always a risk when being sedated. However, certain people, such as those who are obese or have obstructive sleep apnea, should talk to their doctor before having sedation. That is because they are more likely to develop complications from the anesthesia.

If you have questions about our sedation options, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.summitdentalgroupllc.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Charles Crouch of Summit Dental Group call our Fort Worth, TX, office at 817-294-8505. 

Defining Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax, and central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Here at Summit Dental Group, we always explore non-invasive treatment options first, such as oral appliances, but allow us to explain the difference between obstructive and central sleep apnea.

When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and you can’t get an adequate breath in. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. When central sleep apnea occurs, you may awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep. Like with obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and daytime sleepiness can occur. Regardless of the type you have, it’s best to explore your treatment options.

If you sleep apnea is a concern of yours, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.summitdentalgroupllc.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Charles Crouch of Summit Dental Group call our Fort Worth, TX, office at 817-294-8505.