What We Do :

Our office is a dental specialty practice. The American Dental Association currently has several recognized fields of specialization, and one of them (ours) is Endodontics.

The word "Endodontics" from Latin origin means:

Endo: "inside"

dontics: "the tooth"

Dentistry as a healing art and science encompasses many facets that are typically found in a general or "family" practice. Some specific needs of a patient exist that require unique skills and experience of the Practitioner and Staff to provide this special care. Addressing these specific needs is how the specialization concept has evolved. Therefore, an endodontic practice focuses primarily on "the inside of the tooth" and any disease around a tooth in the adjacent tissues.

The tooth pulp is the living tissue inside the tooth and root that contains the blood supply, connective and nerve tissue. Its function is to act a template to form the shape of the developing (erupting) tooth, and to signal problems that may arise later on (i.e. decay/cracks/toothache) during life. Each tooth in your mouth develops with a healthy pulp and is designed by Mother Nature to last your entire lifetime. Unfortunately, through disease, trauma, neglect, or sometimes poor old bad luck, a dental pulp may get into trouble. This is usually found by visual,  radiographic examination, or manifested through a signal we know as a toothache. Depending on the nature of the problem, how it occurred, and how long it has been going on (pain or not); the tooth may change from a normal healthy condition, to a diseased or "sick" condition. The efforts of an endodontist are to heal and reverse these conditions back to a healthy state. A variety of procedures could be suggested and completed to accomplish this goal.

Sometimes these problems may not only involve the inside of the tooth, but may spread or involve structures beyond the tooth known as the periapical (peri=around, apical=root tip) tissues. The scope of endodontics also includes these regions. The diagnosis and treatment of both the pulpal and periapical regions, is essentially "what we do". Some non-dental conditions (i.e. neurologic, vascular, sinus, viral) also exist that may mimic pulpal pathology and are sorted out by proper diagnosis and recognition and may be referred to other medical or dental practitioners. Not everybody requires a treatment procedure. . Some situations need nothing at all, and will reverse by themselves or with the help of medications. We attempt to differentially diagnose these conditions direct or treat  the patient accordingly.

Previous root canal treatments may also need to be retreated due to leakage under a failing filling or crown or due to not being treated correctly the first time around, for whatever reason.  Correct recognition of the cause of failure may require partial or complete disassembly of the existing restorative condition to determine why the case is failing and a reasonable prognosis of the tooth can then be provided.  Alternatives to retreatment of a case include surgical treatments (i.e. apicoectomy, root amputation, extraction, doing nothing) may be presented. 

We also provide sedation services that provide hope and comfort to patients that may experience anxiety towards dental treatment.  Nitrous oxide, oral sedatives (a pill), and intravenous sedation is provided in a safe environment.  patient monitoring using EKG, pulse oximetry, CO2 capnography, and blood pressure are used. Comprehensive staff training, emergency drugs/reversal agents and complete airway management is also provided in accordance to the American Society of Anesthesiology standard for all patient's safety. 

Much of our work is referred to us from dental/medical offices and former patients for our expertise. Once our requested treatment is complete, some intermediate restorative and/or surgical procedures may be additionally requested for the patient while visiting our office. We attempt to organize, refer, or complete these procedures as conveniently as possible.

Once all your needs are completed, or if conditions may be placed on a watch and "wait and see status", periodic follow-up examinations are scheduled for further observation or confirmation of healing.

Documentation of your case is provided in all casework via encrypted lectronic and written charting, digital or analog radiograpy/photography and written or electronic reports are created.  Communication with local and long distance referrals and post-op practitioners is provided in every case. Off site backup of electronic records are performed daily, and retrieval of records and radiographs are available 24 hrs a day/seven days a week for after hour emergency reference.