I had a throbbing ache in one of my molars and had to go to the first available dentist; in this case, it was Dr. Lavacca. He pointed out a chip in the molar, and proceeded to cut a groove through the middle of the tooth. It alleviated the pain temporarily, but a year and a half later, my molar suddenly cracked into two, and it's my suspicion that it cracked along the lines of the groove. I found Dr. Lavacca to be nice and friendly, but given the limited success of his operation, makes it difficult for me to give a wholehearted recommendation.