Root Canal Therapy

An infected tooth requires immediate treatment. This is the best way to prevent the infection from spreading, stop bone loss, and possibly save the tooth. In the dental profession, endodontics is the specialty comprising of the nerves and roots. The most common procedure; the root canal. Root canal therapy is used for infections. At your New York, NY, dental office, Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi offer root canal therapy.

 

Infections are often found in the roots of the tooth. Thus, a root canal is necessary. At the procedure, a local anesthetic is applied to the tooth. This keeps you comfortable and experiencing minimal discomfort. Your New York dentist will drill into the tooth, opening the root canal. The infection can be spotted. All affected tissue is removed and the area thoroughly cleaned. Afterward, the hole is sealed and a temporary crown is applied. The crown assists the healing process while restoring appearance.

 

Root canals are the most infamous of dental procedures. They have a bad reputation that is simply incorrect. With today's technology and medicine, root canals are highly successful and almost pain-free. Any soreness experienced the next day can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. Antibiotics may also be prescribed if an infection occurs. The result is an infection-free mouth and the ability to enjoy the foods you love.

 

If you or a loved one need root canal therapy, contact our New York, NY, office. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi, visit our website or call 212-988-1089.

Smoking and Pulpitis

Smoking is harmful to a patient’s immune system. There are also several reasons why it is harmful to oral health, including that it causes oral cancer and bad breath, but recently, scientists found evidence of a new way in which its interactions with the immune system are harmful to teeth, specifically. We at the Midtown dental practice of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro want our patients to be fully aware of the health hazards they’re facing, so we thought we’d take a moment to talk about dental pulp infections.

Pulpitis is the condition in which the sensitive pulp of a tooth is swollen, resulting in soreness. Like other forms of inflammation, it is an immune system response that traps disease-spreading bacteria and concentrates white blood cells and antimicrobial peptides. The latter are acids which latch onto bacteria, allowing them to be killed, and they’re one of the body’s most important defenses against infection. But according to a new study, smokers lack antimicrobial peptides in their dental pulp, putting them at risk for longer, more severe, and recurring infections.

Dental pulp infections are a serious concern. If they progress, they can cause facial abscesses and blood poisoning. Root canal therapy, in which dental pulp is extracted and replaced with a sealant, can be effective at treating them. But patients who wish to avoid severe pulp infections would do well to abandon smoking. The study also found that after a patient quits, peptides can sometimes return.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit Joseph Dallessandro DDS and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Retreatment

The long-term success of a root canal is around 95% and in most cases the root canal lasts as long as natural teeth. When the root canal isn’t successful, the tooth might become diseased or painful and need retreatment. When root canals reach that point, an endodontist (root canal specialist) will need to do a new root canal.

When the root canal doesn’t heal successfully, there are a variety of cases why the tooth failed to heal properly. The placement of the crown might not have been done in a timely manner following endodontic treatment, narrow canals weren’t treated properly, and in some cases canal anatomy went undetected and therefore went untreated during the procedure.

Two visits are needed with an endodontist, the first one visit is to take x-rays and diagnose the problem, then the crown is removed and the canal is cleaned and filled with a temporary filling. After your endodontist completes retreatment, you will need to return to your for a second visit  as soon as possible to have a new crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, operate at 360 E 72^nd St, Ste B, New York, New York 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089 or visit Joseph S. Dallessandro and fill out a contact sheet.

Intrinsic Stains

The whitening treatments we offer at Dr. Dallessandro’s Midtown office are highly effective against extrinsic stains, but some stains are so deep bleach is unlikely to reach them. These are called intrinsic stains, and they affect the pulp of a tooth. While they may only be a cosmetic problem, in some cases, they represent a risk to the patient’s health.

The harmless intrinsic stains are those caused by the tooth being exposed to dark molecules during its formation. Common sources for these are tetracycline antibiotics and excessive amounts of fluoride. In these cases, the tooth can simply be covered with a veneer. The dangerous stains are caused by inflammation of the dental pulp in response to an infection. The body has a hard time fighting off dental infections on its own, and our doctors will recommend a root canal. Using the advanced imaging tools in our office, they will be able to determine whether the infected material has been eliminated. Once the patient is no longer at risk, the cosmetic restorations can proceed.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72^nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit JosephDallessandroDDS.com, and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Rotary Endodontics for Smoother Root Canals

Root canal therapy has had a bad reputation in the past; however, thanks to new technology, the process is now quieter, quicker, and less uncomfortable. Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS of New York, NY uses rotary endodontics in our office to provide his patients with quick and easy root canals.

In the past, a manual file was used to perform root canal therapy. Rotary endodontics uses an electric drill that has a much more flexible file made of titanium alloy. The flexibility allows the dentist to go further into the root without stretching or damaging the canal. This means a more comfortable experience for the patient during and after the procedure. Rotary endodontics is also much quieter than the manual files of the past, so patients who are nervous about hearing the drilling can feel more at ease. Rotary endodontics also makes the process of a root canal quicker, a clear benefit for both the patient and the dentist.

The latest technology allows us to perform dental procedures more accurately and comfortable. That is why we have implemented rotary endodontics into our practice. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS in our New York, NY office, call us at (212) 988-1089 or visit our website, www.josephdallessandrodds.com.