
Tips To Overcome Root Canal Anxiety
July 22, 2022
Why Do You Need Endodontic Imaging Prior To Treatment?
December 6, 2022Our team at Innovative Endodontics is growing! We’re proud to welcome Dr. Bailey Weightman to our practice. Her education, experience, and patient focus make her an ideal addition to our endodontic team.
Like Dr. Estes, Dr. Weightman is a top endodontic specialist Charleston residents can entrust their dental health with.
Dr. Weightman’s Educational Background
Dr. Weightman earned an undergraduate degree from University at Buffalo. There, she graduated Summa Cum Laude, showing her dedication to learning from college forward.
After earning her undergraduate degree, Dr. Weightman went to Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine. Following her graduation from dental school, she completed a one-year general practice residency at Stony Brook University Hospital.
She then continued her post-graduate education at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry. She further excelled by earning her Certificate in Endodontics. She also earned a Master of Science in Dentistry by conducting research on In vitro pH changes comparing calcium hydroxide and bioceramic sealers in simulated root surface resorption defects.
Dr. Weightman’s Professional Associations and Awards
Professionally, Dr. Weightman practiced endodontics for a year in central New York before joining our team at Innovative Endodontics. She has also joined several professional organizations and earned many awards over time that show her commitment to excellence.
First, her professional associations include the New York State Dental Association (NYSDA), the American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Association of Endodontics (AAE). She also is Board Eligible with the ABE.
One of her celebrated accomplishments is membership in the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society. This membership is a rare honor because across the country, only 10% of colleges and universities include Phi Beta Kappa chapters. Those schools that do only permit 10% of their science and arts graduates to join this honor society. Admission into this group puts Dr. Weightman into a prestigious league with former American presidents, Supreme Court justices, and Nobel Laureates.
With the AAE, Dr. Weightman earned an AAE Resident Award for poster research. Those selected for this award come from the top ten scoring endodontic postgraduate student presenters per category.
These awards and honors reflect how Dr. Weightman works hard and will do so for her patients at Innovative Endodontics.
Dr. Weightman’s Professional Focuses and Dental Specialties
Professionally, Dr. Weightman’s focus is the endodontic field. This area requires additional learning to specialize in treating the microscopic complexities of teeth. Endodontists, like Dr. Weightman, must first earn their dental degrees before choosing to further their education in endodontics.
A post-graduate endodontic program is usually 2-3 years in length and covers many in-depth topics, including managing pain, diagnosing and treating root canal problems, managing traumatic injuries, and conducting endodontic microsurgery. Continuing education courses after the completion of residency are also a large part of endodontics as the field is always evolving!
What Dr. Weightman Enjoys Outside the Office
When not caring for patients, Dr. Weightman has several hobbies. She loves being outside and active as a marathon runner, biker, skier, and beach-goer. Additionally, she enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her basset hound Dottie.
Services Dr. Weightman Provides at Innovative Endodontics
At Innovative Endodontics, both our doctors provide exceptional care. Our endodontic services include the following:
Cracked Tooth Treatment
You may not have to lose a cracked tooth. In many cases, an endodontist can save a cracked tooth by cleaning out the root canals inside the tooth and preventing infection that could lead to tooth loss. Since every situation is different, you need an evaluation by an endodontist for your damaged tooth to find out if it can be saved and the best treatment options for it.
Endodontic Retreatment
Endodontic retreatment can save a tooth that develops an infection after initial root canal therapy. Reinfection may arise years later due to tooth decay, cracks/fractures, or insufficient restorations, which have allowed bacteria back into the root canal system. The goal of retreatment is to save the tooth from requiring extraction!
Endodontic Microsurgery
Endodontic microsurgery differs from root canal therapy and endodontic retreatment in that the surgical procedure specifically addresses the end of the root where reinfection is present. The goal of endodontic microsurgery is to maintain the natural tooth. The majority of patients do very well post-surgery and can see success rates ranging from 80-90%!
Root Canal Therapy
At Innovative Endodontics, our mission is to help Charleston residents see root canal therapy in a new light. This non-surgical treatment can save a tooth and does not typically cause more discomfort than a tooth filling. It stops pain caused by inflammation or infection deep inside a tooth, so you’ll feel better after the tooth heals from the procedure.
Signs You Should Make an Appointment with an Endodontist
While you should have a regular dentist for cleanings and checkups, you should also know an endodontist to go to when you have signs that something is internally wrong with your teeth. Watch out for the following signs:
- Pain in a tooth when biting down
- Hot and/or cold temperature sensitivity that is lingering
- Spontaneous tooth pain
- Tooth pain wakes you up at night
- A cracked tooth
- A traumatic dental injury
- A pimple or swelling on the gums
- Swollen, red, or painful gums at the base of a tooth
If you experience any of the above signs, you may have a problem with the root canals in a tooth. Contact us at Innovative Endodontics for an appointment to find and treat the cause.
Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Weightman A Top Endodontic Specialist
Trust the top endodontic specialists in Charleston, Drs. Estes and Weightman, when you need endodontic care. With years of experience and a patient-focused practice, our endodontists help each patient feel comfortable while they get high-quality care.
Call us to set up a visit for an endodontic evaluation and treatment. We’re here to provide you with compassionate, friendly, and professional care. We are conveniently located in many Charleston areas.