Endodontics is the dental specialty concerned with diagnosing and treating conditions in the tissue inside teeth, also known as the pulp. Your teeth consist of two primary parts: the crown, or the visible portion above the gum line, and the root.
The pulp is a soft core of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue that extends up the center of both portions within the dentin, a hard layer beneath the enamel (outer coating) of your teeth. While this tissue is vital during development stages, in fully formed permanent teeth, it can be safely removed in the case of infection or inflammation.
After reviewing your medical history and current X-rays, Dr. Russo will take a thorough dental history, followed by a detailed examination of the affected tooth and surrounding area. Once a diagnosis is made, Dr. Russo will review her recommended treatment.
Our office staff will review any fees and insurance with you before treatment is performed. Occasionally, a treatment plan can’t be determined at the first visit either because root canal treatment is not needed, your symptoms are not due to a tooth, or further time or diagnostics are necessary. Dr. Russo will give you clear instructions on your next step and will communicate the details with your general dentist.
While every patient and every tooth is different, most of our patients find the treatment process comfortable. You may experience some soreness after treatment as the surrounding tissues begin to heal from the infection or trauma that affected your tooth in the first place.
You can manage this discomfort with over-the-counter pain relievers. However, if you experience severe or persistent pain, get in touch with our team for a follow-up.
After completion of your root canal treatment, a restorative dentist will rebuild your tooth. We send their office a letter detailing the procedure performed and treatment recommendations. Dr. Russo will recommend that you see your general dentist shortly after treatment has been completed to discuss the best final restoration option.
Please be careful when chewing as the tooth may be at risk for fracture before the permanent crown is cemented. Avoid hard foods or anything else that might cause undue pressure on the treated tooth.
Occasionally Dr. Russo advises patients to return periodically to monitor healing. Check-up appointments generally are performed 6 months to a year after treatment has been completed, are performed at no charge, and take approximately 15-20 minutes.
At Russo Endodontics, we take patient safety very seriously, applying the most stringent standards of infection control in our offices. Following guidelines from OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and the ADA (American Dental Association), we use autoclave sterilization and barrier protocols to eliminate any risk of infection and ensure that your treatment is completed in the safest possible manner.
Ongoing Additional COVID Protocols For 2021:
In accordance with the CDC’s Guidance for Dental Settings—and for your safety—during the pandemic, we’ve taken some additional steps beyond our already comprehensive approach to infection control.
We’ll call you prior to your appointment and ask some quick, simple health questions and will perform another brief survey while checking your temperature when you arrive. We also ask that you don’t bring others along for your appointment, unless absolutely necessary, to reduce building occupancy.
Our treatment calendar has already been adjusted to make maintaining safe social distancing for both staff and patients.
You’ll need to wear a mask within the building—except during your treatment itself, of course. Our staff will also wear masks thorough your entire appointment, and we thoroughly sanitize all touch surfaces before and after every patient. Together, we can get through these trying times.
We have patients complete a health history form, which includes information about allergies, including latex. We offer latex-free treatment if you have a suspected or confirmed allergy to latex.