FAQs

Endodontists are specialists in saving teeth. By limiting their practice to endodontics, endodontists focus exclusively on treatments of the dental pulp. They are experts in the diagnose and management of dental pain, dental trauma, root canal procedures and endodontic surgeries with the main goal of maintaining natural dentition.

Typically, our patients are comfortable and pain-free during a Root Canal Treatment since we are specialists managing dental pain. Our diagnostic skills and knowledge use of local anesthetics make our patients experience a typically a pain-free, safe and relaxed root canal treatment.

After treatment slight discomfort is expected. Even though the inflamed or dead tissue is removed during the Root Canal Treatment; it will take some time for the inflammation in the tissues around the tooth to subside; therefore, feeling the tooth ‘tender and sensitive’ for a few days is completely normal. This sensation typically last 48-72 hours. Our doctors and staff will provide you with more post treatment information according to the procedure.

For more information about post-treatment care, please visit ‘ Post Treatment Care’ from the American Association of Endodontics at the following link: https://www.aae.org/patients/your-office-visit/post-treatment-care/

The next step will follow the treatment plan discussed with your dentist that will serve better your dental needs. If your tooth needed a Root Canal Treatment, it is probably due to a large cavity, a large defective restoration, trauma, or other causes that could cause disease to the pulp tissue. Most of the time, after a Root Canal Treatment is completed there is not enough healthy dental structure to restore a tooth with just a filling and a crown is needed to make sure the tooth will not eventually break.

Yes, if you are afraid and anxious about dental procedures, we can utilize techniques for mild and moderate sedation for your comfort and satisfaction. Understanding your concerns will help us to identify if you need treatment under sedation and we will explain what to expect.  Our office can provide mild sedation either by using Nitrous Oxide (the laughing gas), that will put you into a relaxed state but keeping you awake and able to leave the office by yourself; or Oral Sedation, with a medication (a pill) that you will take 1 hr. before the treatment and will still keep you awake. It is important to note that any person who takes an oral sedative cannot drive or operate any vehicle for a few hours. Therefore, consider planning ahead and having a designated driver for your appointment.

Radiographic images are necessary during the endodontic treatment. We use digital radiography with sensors that require a significantly lower amount of radiation than conventional dental x-rays machines. Cone Beam Computed Tomography images for endodontics are restricted to the area of interest (small field of view) reducing the radiation dose for the patient. Radiation exposure associated with dentistry represents a minor contribution to the total exposure from natural and artificial sources.

Our clinic is fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology and materials for information records, endodontic procedures and imaging. We utilize, TDO, a dental software for Endodontist that eliminates paperwork, keeps complete and comprehensive records integrating clinical pictures and radiographs and send final reports to the referring dentists on the same day that the patient visited our office.

We use dental operating microscope for all our procedures since they require attention to details and skills to work within the small confinements of the root canal space. Good magnification and illumination significantly improve the negotiation of the canal anatomy, identification of dental cracks and minimize the removal of tooth structure. For more info read “ The Dental Operating Microscope in Endodontics” from the American Association of Endodontics.

(https://www.aae.org/specialty/wpcontent/uploads/sites/2/2017/07/winter2016microscopes.pdf)

To preserve dental structure, we also use ultrasonic instruments for selective dentin removal during surgical and non-surgical endodontic treatments and to activate irrigants for intracanal disinfection.

We utilize digital radiographic images with sensors for low radiation and fast acquisition and also CBCT technology to acquire 3D images for endodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. You can find out more in the section “Our dental imaging services”.

Our doctors are flexible in accommodating emergency cases to alleviate your pain even during holidays. Our doctors can always be reached after hours or during weekends. Just call our office and our voice message will guide you how to contact them.