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Endodontists are specialists in treating the inner tooth, and perform root canal procedures every day. They have completed years of additional advanced studies after dental school to diagnose and treat both common root canal issues and more complicated endodontic problems. Calcified root canals are one such complication that make a visit to Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants the right choice for your professional care.

What’s involved in a typical root canal procedure?

After the area around the tooth is numbed, Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants will make an opening in the crown to allow access to the pulp inside. Very small instruments will be used to clean the inner tooth and remove dead or dying pulp tissue. The area inside of the tooth will be shaped, filled, and sealed, a process which can take one or more appointments. A temporary filling might be placed in the tooth to prevent bacteria and food from entering the site before a permanent seal is created. Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants can consult with you as to whether a crown or other restoration is best to protect your tooth after root canal treatment.

How do calcified roots develop?

Calcium is an essential mineral because it keeps our enamel strong, protecting the delicate pulp tissue inside the tooth. Sometimes, though, calcium deposits will partially or completely block a root canal. This build-up might occur in a canal as a response to injury or infection. It’s also a process that occurs naturally over time, and because of today’s advances in dental care, people are keeping their natural teeth much longer. This calcification can become a problem when you need a root canal procedure.

Why are calcified roots a problem?

It’s very important that we have access to every root, and to the entire length of every root, for the root canal procedure to succeed. If calcium deposits block all or part of a canal, even delicate instruments will have difficulty reaching all of the pulp tissue inside the canal. To make matters even more complicated, calcified roots can be hard to locate. Dealing with calcified canals requires experience and skill.

How can an endodontist help?

• Endodontists have sophisticated imaging technology and microscopes, which, together with their experience in the anatomy of the inner tooth, help them locate even difficult-to-detect roots and their branches.
• Endodontists have the skill and training to precisely and patiently clear the blocked roots.
• Specifically engineered endodontic instruments have been designed to clean and shape narrow, calcified canals.
• Finally, if the root canals are not treatable through the crown of the tooth, endodontic surgery can allow access to the canals that regular non-surgical methods cannot.

If you have calcified roots, making a root canal more difficult, schedule an appointment at our Worcester office. We are experts in root canal procedures, whether common or complex, and experts in saving teeth.

If you have been thinking about getting a piercing, or if you already have one or more, there are some health risks our team at Central New England Endodontics and Implantology wants you to know about. It's important to know the risks involved with oral piercing, including infection, chipped teeth, gum damage, nerve damage, loss of taste, or tooth loss that could occur as a result.

Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Many people who have piercings tend to regularly touch them, paving the way for bacteria to enter piercing sites. Also, food particles that collect around piercing sites can lead to infection.

Besides hindering your ability to talk and eat, oral piercing also leads people to develop a habit of biting or playing with their piercings, which can lead to cracked or fractured teeth. While the fracture can be confined to the enamel of the tooth and require a simple filling, you also run the risk of the fracture going deep into the tooth, which may require a root canal, tooth extraction, and additional dental treatment.

If you still decide to get an oral piercing, you should realize that it will take some time to heal (anywhere between four to six weeks) and it may be very uncomfortable. Also please keep in mind that it will be an added responsibility to your life, as it will require regular upkeep. We want you to make sure that you’re committed to the task of taking care of it for the full healing period and beyond.

We encourage you to clean the piercing with antiseptic mouthwash after eating, and brush the jewelry each time you brush your teeth. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to give us a call!

One good question; two good answers!

Why see an endodontist?

Many of us have experienced occasional minor tooth or gum pain and sensitivity. A new filling can lead to a brief period of sensitivity to pressure or heat and cold. Braces can be uncomfortable when they are new or recently adjusted. You might simply be brushing too hard! But sometimes, pain and sensitivity are caused by a more serious dental problem which should be treated as soon as possible.

When exposure to hot and cold foods causes continuous discomfort, or your gums are red or swollen or tender around a tooth, or when you can’t bite down without pain, it could mean that the pulp or roots of your tooth have suffered infection or damage. Damage to the tooth’s pulp can also be the result of an injury, such as a blow to the mouth. A chip, a crack, or a deep cavity can leave an opening for infection.

Whatever the cause of injury or inflammation, once the pulp and roots have been compromised, treatment needs to take place promptly to prevent further infection, pain, and even tooth and bone loss.

Why see an endodontist?

While all dentists receive some endodontic training in dental school, fewer than three percent go on to become endodontists like Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants. “Endodontic” means “inside the tooth,” and refers to the pulp chamber and root canals within each tooth that hold tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. Two to three years of additional education are required to become a specialist in this complex field, with advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of injuries and diseases that affect the inner tooth and its supporting tissue.

When a tooth’s pulp is damaged, prompt treatment is necessary, and an endodontist has the ability, the experience, and the tools to provide you with the care you need. Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants and our team work to save injured teeth with a variety of procedures available at our Worcester office, including root canals, endodontic surgeries on tooth and root structures, and placement of posts and cores to strengthen and stabilize compromised teeth. With today’s advances in the field, endodontists have more sophisticated tools and treatments than ever before to save your injured tooth.

No matter how you ask the question, the answer is clear. If you have tooth, gum, or unexplained facial pain, talk to Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants about endodontic treatment.

As a patient at Central New England Endodontics and Implantology, your opinion matters! Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants and our team love hearing what our patients think about our practice and the services we provide, and now we want to know, what do you think we should blog about?

Perhaps there’s a treatment you’ve always wanted to know about, or you’d like to learn about a specific way to improve your health and smile. Whatever your idea, we’d love to hear about it! You can let us know by posting here or on our Facebook page!