by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Dec 11, 2023 | Blog, Endodontics, Team Spotlight
Learn more about our endodontic care team at Phoenix Endodontic Group in our Team Spotlight
As we embrace the festive spirit of December, we’re thrilled to shine the light on one of our exceptional endodontists at Phoenix Endodontic Group. This month, let’s get to know one of the top endodontists in our endodontic practice – Dr. James F. Wolcott, IV.
We had a Q&A with Dr. Wolcott:
Full Name:Dr. James F. Wolcott, IV
Job Title: Endodontist
Educational Background:
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- Dental School: University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
- General Practice Residency (GPR): University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
- Endodontic Program: Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
First job in healthcare: Orderly at a nursing home in North Carolina during my junior year of high school.
Why you became an Endodontist: I have a knack for working in my mind’s eye.
Do you have any hobbies? Karting with my son.
Hobbies: Enjoying karting adventures with my son.
Culinary Delight: Chilaquiles
Literary Favorite: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Top Movie Pick: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Guilty Pleasure: Indulging in the nostalgia of 80’s hair metal music.
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Dec 4, 2023 | Blog, Endodontics, Endodontist, Root Canal
Root canal treatment of a damaged or infected natural tooth can enable it to last a lifetime. However, like most treatments, you as the patient must do your part to ensure your procedure is successful.
Proper root canal treatment aftercare can be divided into things you should do immediately after the procedure, during recovery week, and things you should do over the long run. Let’s take a look at each set of instructions so you’ll be well prepared when you have your root canal treatment.
Aftercare Tips: Immediately After Your Root Canal Treatment
Do not eat for several hours after your root canal. This allows the local anesthesia to wear off – you will avoid biting injuries due to numbness.
Do not smoke after your root canal treatment. Smoking tobacco impedes healing.
Make sure you have antibiotics prescribed by your endodontist. This allows you to continue to fight any infection in your tooth.
Keep the endodontist’s contact information handy in case there is post-procedure pain. You should NOT have excruciating pain after a root canal – if you do, call the office so they can look into what is happening.
Aftercare Tips: The Week After Your Root Canal Treatment
Do not bite down using the tooth that received the root canal. Until you’ve had a permanent restoration (usually a crown) placed, you could lose your temporary filling by putting biting pressure on the tooth.
Stick to soft foods while your mouth is healing. You can choose from delicious options that include scrambled eggs, smoothies, yogurt, pasta, noodle dishes, mashed potatoes, meatloaf, hummus, cooked vegetables, or sorbets.
Ease back into your regular activities. You can go to work in a day or two, and start exercising a few days after that. When in doubt, don’t push things; let your body guide recovery.
Aftercare Tips: When Your Root Canal Treatment Is Finished
Make sure you get the permanent restoration (usually a crown) placed over your root canal. This one step is critical to protecting the root canal and cannot be skipped.
Continue to brush and floss daily. You can care for your tooth that received the root canal as you would any natural tooth after the healing stage is complete.
Visit your general dentist regularly. They will monitor your overall oral health and can refer you to an endodontist if you need another root canal or a root canal retreatment.
“Most of the steps that we ask our patients to take after a root canal treatment are simple, but they should be followed closely,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, who practices with Phoenix Endodontics Group. “We are happy to discuss how to follow aftercare instructions and why they are important.”
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Nov 19, 2023 | Blog, Endodontics, Team Spotlight
Learn more about our endodontic care team at Phoenix Endodontic Group in our Team Spotlight.
Our November Team Spotlight features office administrator and dental assistant, Ana-Alicia Salas. Ani manages both administrative tasks in our endodontic practice and assists the doctors with endodontic procedures. She is a valued team member at Phoenix Endodontic Group and we are thrilled share a little more about Ani.
We had a Q&A with Ani:
Full Name: Ana-Alicia Salas
Job Title: Office Administrator/Dental Assistant
What’s the day-to-day of your role like?: ? Following up with our referring offices to ensure we are providing the best service to both their office and patients.
What are 3 words to describe Phoenix Endodontic Group?: Committed, Friendly, Attentive.
Before working at Phoenix Endodontic Group, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?: I’ve always worked at Phoenix Endodontic Group
First Job: Phoenix Endodontic Group
Do you have any hobbies?: Reading, shopping and playing with my nephew.
Favorite food: Pizza
Pet(s): Boxer: Banner; Mixed Terrier: Coco
Favorite book: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Favorite movie: Love Rosie
Something on your bucket list: Going to Rome
Guilty pleasure: People Watching
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Nov 3, 2023 | Blog, Endodontics, Endodontist, Root Canal
When times are tough, folks yearn for the “good old days.” However, most of us wouldn’t really want to travel back in time for complex dental work. For endodontic procedures such as root canal therapy, patient outcomes and happiness have improved immensely, on the heels of improvements in technology and treatment techniques.
Here’s a brief list of just some ways root canal therapy has gotten better over recent generations.
Advancements In Root Canal Therapy
1. Diagnostic imaging, for better treatment. When root canals were first performed, dentists didn’t have even basic imaging technology to guide their work. Today, treatments can be pinpointed with Cone Beam Computed Tomography, allowing endodontists a full 3-D view of your teeth.
2. Local anesthetics allow a comfortable treatment. The earliest root canal treatments happened before the advent of anesthesia. Today’s patients have largely pain-free experiences through local anesthetics. Further, if dental anxiety is an issue, sedation dentistry can provide a gentle solution.
3. Microsurgical tools allow precision canal cleaning and shaping. The first root-canal shaping tool was developed by Edwin Maynard in the mid-1800s, created from a watch spring. Today’s precise tools for cleaning and shaping infected root canals are developed task-specifically, continually refined, and always crafted with your teeth in mind.
4. New cleansing technologies ensure more complete treatment. Top endodontic practices now use the GentleWave Procedure, a root canal treatment that uses fluid dynamics to ensure superior canal cleaning. The result is a faster, less invasive root canal with minimal pain and rapid healing.
5. Restorations ensure root canal treatments remain successful. Early root canal treatments were not followed by the placement of restorations such as a permanent crown. This critical step has hugely enhanced the long-term success rate of root canals, allowing a properly cared for root canal treatment to often last a lifetime.
At Phoenix Endodontic Group, practitioners use all our available advances to provide state-of-the-art treatment.
“When you enter one of our treatment rooms, every aspect of your root canal treatment has been evaluated and selected to provide you with the safest, most comfortable treatment possible. Our goal is preserving your natural teeth, so you can enjoy them for a lifetime,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, founder of the practice.
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Oct 15, 2023 | Blog, Endodontics, Team Spotlight
Learn more about our endodontic care team at Phoenix Endodontic Group in our Team Spotlight.
Our October Team Spotlight features Operations Director, Kevin Conroy. Kevin is our go to for all administrative areas of the practice: bookkeeping. AP/AR, HR, scheduling, handles clinic facility operations and more. He is the glue that furthers Phoenix Endodontic Group moving toward our goal of being known as the best Endodontic Specialty clinic in the state of Arizona.
We had a Q&A with Kevin:
Full Name:Kevin G. Conroy
Job Title: Operations Director
What’s the day-to-day of your role like?: ? I manage all administrative areas of the practice: bookkeeping. AP/AR, HR, scheduling, etc. I also handle clinic facility operations and planning new equipment purchases.
What are 3 words to describe Phoenix Endodontic Group?: Patient-Focused, State-of-the-art, Leader in Endodontic Specialty in the State
Before working at Phoenix Endodontic Group, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?: I was a security guard for concerts and events in Washington DC during my college years.
First Job: I was a dishwasher in a Chinese Restaurant in Martinsville, VA.
Do you have any hobbies?: Reading history books, and hiking when the weather is right.
Favorite food: Italian Food
Favorite book: “The Devil’s Chessboard”
Favorite movie: The Outlaw Josey Wales
Something on your bucket list:Taking my three grandsons on a trip to Ireland (when they are old enough).
Guilty pleasure: Enjoying the quiet in the early morning drinking coffee outside (weather permitting).
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Oct 4, 2023 | Blog
Preventing bad health outcomes is almost always cheaper – and less painful – than trying to repair damage. Nowhere is this more true than oral health.
October is when dental professionals observe Dental Hygiene Month. Dental hygienists specialize in providing preventive care during your regular oral health check-ups. They clean the surfaces of your teeth, removing plaque and tartar. They may also apply sealants or other fluoride treatments to protect your teeth from decay.
You can help your dental team preserve your oral health by following a few simple steps throughout your day. Taking time now to protect your teeth and gums can save you money (and your teeth!) later.
Save Your Natural Teeth With These Oral Health Tips
1. Visit your dentist for check-ups and cleaning at regular intervals. For some people, twice a year is plenty. Others need more frequent examinations. Talk to your dentist about how often to come in.
2. Brush twice a day, and floss daily. These two habits are the foundation of good oral health.
3. Stop smoking or do not start. Limit alcohol. Smoking can damage your gums. Alcohol can aggravate dry mouth, a condition that fuels tooth decay and gum disease.
4. Eat a healthy diet. Include several servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Good choices include carrots, apples, and berries. Regular consumption of dairy foods provides calcium, an important nutrient to strengthen your teeth.
5. Use a mouthguard for contact sports. Mouthguards are a must in football, basketball, baseball and other high-impact sports. You should also consider them in sports such as cycling and rock-climbing, where one mistake could result in your teeth suddenly hitting a hard surface.
6. See an endodontist for teeth-saving procedures. Endodontists specialize in oral health conditions threatening natural teeth, such as infection in your dental pulp or broken/fractured teeth. They rely on extensive education and advanced technology to save natural teeth with a minimum of pain.
“Our practice advises patients daily about the importance of oral health self-care,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, founder of Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Choices you make daily about your oral health can play a significant role in how your natural teeth serve you over your lifetime.”
