Endodontic FAQ

What is endodontics?


Endodontics is a branch of dentistry recognized by the American Dental Association involving treatment of the pulp (root canal) and surrounding tissues of the tooth. When you look at your tooth in the mirror, what you see is the crown. The rest of the tooth, the portion hidden beneath the gum line, is called the root. Though the outer portion of the root is a hard tissue called dentin, the inside channel or “root canal” contains a pulp of soft tissue, blood vessels and nerves. Bacteria that are introduced into the pulp as a result of tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth fracture or other problems, can severely damage the pulp. When that happens, an endodontic specialist removes the diseased pulp to save the tooth and prevent further infection and inflammation. After successful endodontic treatment, the tooth continues to perform normally.

I’m worried about x-rays. Should I be?

No. While x-rays will be necessary during your endodontics treatment, we use an advanced non-film computerized system, called digital radiography, that produces radiation levels up to 90 percent lower than those of already low dose conventional dental x-ray machinery. These digital images can be optimized, archived, printed and sent to co-therapists via e-mail or diskette.

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*A millisievert (mSV) is a unit of measure that allows for some comparison between radiation sources that expose the entire body (such as natural background radiation) and those that only expose a portion of the body (such as radiographs).

Source: Adapted from Frederiksen NL. X-Rays: What is the Risk? Texas Dental Journal. 1995;112(2):68-72.

Ludlow JB et al. Dosimetry of 3 CBCT devices for oral and maxillofacial radiology. Dentomaxillofac Rad 2006;35:219-226

What about infection?

Again, there’s no need for concern. We adhere to the most rigorous standards of infection control advocated by OSHA, the Centers for Disease Control and the American Dental Association. We utilize autoclave sterilization and barrier techniques to eliminate any risk of infection.

What happens if the tooth needs to be removed?

There are many options available to replace a missing tooth. Consulting with your restorative dentist will allow you to choose the best option for your situation

There are many options available to replace a missing tooth. Consulting with your restorative dentist will allow you to choose the best option for your situation.

Missing Tooth
Missing Tooth
Dental Implant
Dental Implant
Dental Bridge
Dental Bridge
Maryland Bridge
Maryland Bridge
Flipper
Flipper
Partial Denture
Partial Denture

What happens after treatment?

When your root canal therapy has been completed, a record of your treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist. You should contact their office for a follow-up restoration within a few weeks of completion of treatment at our office. Your restorative dentist will decide on what type of restoration is necessary to protect your tooth. It is rare for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery. If a problem does occur, however, we are available at all times to respond.

What new technologies are being used?

CBCT or Cone Beam Computed Tomography:

We can now take a 3 dimensional picture of your tooth which uses less radiation than conventional radiographs.

Digital Panoramic Radiography:

Our new Kodak 9000 3D equipment has two sensors, one dedicated to producing CBCT images and a second for high-resolution panoramic imaging.

Intraoral Digital Radiographs:

All radiographs are taken with digital sensors that provide instant viewing of images on our chair sidecomputer monitors. Digital radiography significantly reduces radiation levels compared to film-based dental x-rays.

Operating Microscopes:

In addition to digital radiography, we utilize special operating microscopes. Magnification and fiber optic illumination are helpful in aiding the doctor to see tiny details inside your tooth. Also, a tiny video camera on the operating microscope can record images of your tooth to further document the doctor’s findings.