PATIENT INFORMATION





Endodontic FAQ

What is endodontics?

Endodontics is one of nine dental specialty areas officially recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA).  "Endodontic" is derived from Greek terms, "endo" (inside) and "odont" (tooth).  Endodontics involves preservation of health or the 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 connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics.  Bacteria that are introduced into the pulp, as a result of tooth decay, periodontal disease, tooth fracture or other problems, can severely damage or necrose  the pulp.  When that happens, an endodontic specialist will need to remove the diseased pulp to save the tooth and prevent further infection and inflammation.  After successful endodontic treatment, the tooth will continue to be functional.

What about infection control?

We adhere to the most rigorous standards of infection control advocated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA).  We utilize autoclave sterilization and barrier techniques to eliminate or reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

What happens after treatment?

When your root canal treatment has been completed, a record of your treatment will be sent to your restorative dentist.  You should contact his or her office for a follow-up visit within a few weeks after completion of treatment in our office.  Your restorative dentist will decide 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 flare-up (severe pain and/or swelling) occurs after treatment, please call 919.256.3996.

What technologies are being used?  Answer:  Dental operating microscope(DOMs), digital radiography, cone-beam computed tomography (cbCT), The Digital Office (TDO) software 

Dental Operating Microscopes:

Inaddition to digital radiography, we utilize dental operating microscopes (DOMs). Magnification and illumination are helpful in aiding Dr. Horalek to see tiny details inside your tooth.   A digital still camera on the dental operating microscope can record images of your tooth to further document the doctor's findings. 

Digital Radiography:

North Raleigh Endodontics uses Carestream Dental / Kodak Dental Systems 6100 sensors, which have a remarkable spatial resolution of 20-22 line pairs per millimeter (lp/mm), the highest spatial resolution of all dental digital radiography sensors on the market. 

Cone-beam Computed Tomography (cbCT)

North Raleigh Endodontics has a Carestream Dental / Kodak Dental Systems 9000 3-D cone-beam computed tomograph (cbCT) machine, which takes three-dimensional volumes at a slice thickness of 76 microns with a radiation equivalent dose  of two to four periapical radiographs. This is the highest spatial  resolution and the lowest equivalent dose of the approximately forty cbCTs on the market today.  Also see a photo of the Kodak 9000 3-D under our news link. 

The Digital Office (TDO):

The office utilizes TDO as our practice management software.  TDO is the most clinically robust software specific to endodonics in the world today.  TDO is also a community of quality-centered endodontists working together to practice at the highest level within our specialty.