by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Jul 1, 2024 | Endodontics, Endodontist
Diamonds last forever. Dental treatments may not. That does not mean the treatments are not valuable. Potentially complex 
treatments, such as root canals, can be effective even if they need to be done a second time.
Endodontic retreatment offers another chance to natural teeth previously saved with a root canal. If a tooth treated with a root canal becomes sore or painful, even months or years later, see your endodontist immediately. They can determine if the tooth is a candidate for retreatment.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about endodontic retreatments, courtesy of practitioners at Phoenix Endodontic Group.
Answers To Common Endodontic Retreatment Questions
Why does my tooth need endodontic retreatment?
Reasons that your original root canal might fail include complex or very small root canals missed during the first procedure, or a delay in getting a crown restoration after your root canal. It’s also possible your tooth experienced new decay or damage, allowing infection to take hold.
Why perform the root canal procedure again if it has failed?
Here is a parallel: If you broke your arm a second time, you would still want the doctor to set the bone and put it in a cast. Endodontic retreatment, a non-surgical option, is one of three choices you may have; the other two are endodontic surgery (apicoectomy) and extraction.
What happens during endodontic retreatment?
Endodontic retreatment is similar to the original root canal procedure. The endodontist will remove your crown and disassemble any materials added to improve your tooth’s structure, such as a post and core. They will remove the current sealant material, carefully examine your tooth’s roots to locate the problem, and clean the canals with disinfecting fluids. Then, the canals will be resealed and a temporary filling placed. You will again need to have a crown placed to finalize the process.
Are endodontic retreatments usually successful?
Endodontic retreatments have a success rate approaching 90 percent. If your endodontist has concerns a retreatment may not be right for you, they may suggest an apicoectomy. In that surgical procedure, a small incision is made near the tooth root to address the infected tooth canals there.
“When we do an endodontic retreatment, we examine our patient’s tooth carefully to ensure the success of the procedure,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, who practices at the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “We’re happy to answer all your questions, so you’ll feel at ease during your retreatment.”
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Feb 6, 2024 | Blog, Endodontist, GentalWave, Root Canal
Like carpenters (or stock brokers), endodontists rely on tools of the trade to do their work. Members of both professions have plenty of tools to help them get the job done. Not all tools are created equal for specific tasks, however. Both a screwdriver and a hammer can be used to pound a nail into a board, but the hammer is the better-suited choice.
When performing root canals, endodontists now have a tool better than the metal files of old for cleaning tooth roots. Practitioners at Phoenix Endodontic Group now turn to the GentleWave system to perform root canals. Here’s a quick look at its advantages over traditional root canal tools.
Why GentleWave Beats Them All
- The GentleWave System is minimally invasive. It uses multisonic wave pressure to move specially formulated fluid through your tooth roots. No scraping.
- GentleWave can clean your root canals more completely than traditional tools. A cascade of bubbles moves like a whirlwind, descending then rising out of the canal. This flushes bacteria and biofilm from the tooth, no matter how complex the canal’s shape.
- Most patients feel little or no pain during a GentleWave root canal. An ongoing clinical trial by dental technology provider Sonendo, Inc., reported that 99.5 percent of enrolled patients experienced no pain during a GentleWave root canal utilizing CleanFlow Technology.
- Root canal treatment time is reduced when GentleFlow is used. Many root canal patients can now receive their treatment in a single session. (The necessary final crown will be placed in a later visit.)
“The GentleWave System has revolutionized how root canals are performed,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen of Phoenix Endodontic Group. “It provides a faster, more complete cleaning of root canals with less discomfort. Because of this, we are confident GentleWave is the best option for most patients’ root canal therapy.”
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 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 | Sep 6, 2023 | Blog, Dental Implants, Endodontist
Placing something artificial in your jaw can be intimidating. However, modern dental implant practice has been around for more than 50 years and is safe, health-enhancing, and life-changing.
If your endodontist recommends a dental implant to replace one or more natural teeth, understanding the process can help you better prepare. Here’s a brief summary.
Steps In The Dental Implant Process
Step 1: Evaluation and planning. Before the actual implant is placed, you’ll have an appointment where your endodontist performs a comprehensive examination. They will take X-rays or use technology like Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) to get a three-dimensional image. They also review current medical conditions (such as diabetes) and develop a treatment plan.
Step 1a (as needed): Bone graft. If your jaw isn’t strong enough to support the implant, you may need a bone graft before the implant. This requires a separate appointment, with time in between, allowing the graft to heal.
Step 2: Pre-op preparation. Your endodontist will discuss preparations for the dental implant procedure. This includes whether you need antibiotics or should eat before your appointment.
Step 3: Natural tooth removal/dental implantation appointment. You will receive anesthesia (local or IV), ensuring the procedure is pain-free. Failing natural teeth are removed. Next, the endodontist places a titanium tooth root implant in the empty bone socket. They finish with stitching the gums above the implant.
Step 4: Osseointegration. After your dental implant is placed, the healing period lasts several months. As the bone in your jaw recovers, it grows around the implant – a process known as osseointegration. This results in the implant being solidly anchored in the jawbone.
Step 5: Placement of abutment and crown. The final step is placing the abutment, which sits atop the implant post and attaches to a crown. If you are missing multiple teeth, the abutment can also attach a set of overdentures, replacing an entire arch of natural teeth.
“Dental implants take time, even if the implant procedure only takes one appointment,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, who practices with Phoenix Endodontic Group. “We are happy to discuss step-by-step the dental implant process, so you feel 100 percent comfortable 100 percent of the time.”
by Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen | Aug 7, 2023 | Blog, Endodontist, GentalWave, Root Canal
Phoenix Endodontics Group treats patients using the most up-to-date technology. We do this because advances inevitably bring a better experience and better post-treatment outcomes for patients.
If you come to us for a root canal, we are likely to suggest the GentleWave Procedure. Let’s look at why we prefer GentleWave technology over traditional approaches to root canals.
GentleWave – Best Current Root Canal Therapy?
1. The GentleWave Procedure leverages fluid dynamics to flush root canals clean. A traditional root canal relies on cleaning with files and other special instruments. If a spot is missed, or a canal is hard to find, some infection can remain. GentleWave’s cascade of tiny imploding bubbles more completely removes biofilm, bacterial infection, and other material from the tooth.
2. The GentleWave Procedure reaches and shakes loose debris that even skilled endodontists miss. For complex root canal systems, treatment using the GentleWave Procedure provides extra assurance that all surfaces have been cleaned and disinfected.
3. The GentleWave Procedure is less invasive than traditional root canal therapy. For those with dental anxiety, root canals can be challenging. With GentleWave, there is less scraping and tapping in the canals and less pain, resulting in a less stressful experience.
4. The GentleWave Procedure requires less time for treatment and recovery. Our patients are pleased that their root canal therapy can be completed in one session most of the time! (They will still need to promptly see their general dentist for a crown to complete restoration.) They are also happy to find they are able to return to their usual activities more quickly than after a traditional root canal, too.
“Our implementation of the GentleWave Procedure for root canal therapy has been a win-win for our practice and our patients,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, an endodontist at Phoenix Endodontic Group. “We are able to provide a more comprehensive, less invasive treatment, and patients benefit from faster treatment and reduced recovery times with less pain and anxiety.”
