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Anyone who has had a compromised tooth knows that the amount of discomfort it causes can be extremely unpleasant. Although no one looks forward to a root canal, this procedure is actually the best way to both eliminate pain and save your tooth. If the pulp inside your tooth is infected or damaged, a root canal is probably necessary.  

The process is relatively straightforward and can take place over one or two visits to our Worcester office. The area around the tooth is numbed, the pulp is removed from the inside of the tooth, the area is thoroughly cleaned, and a temporary filling or crown is placed on the tooth to prevent bacteria and food from entering the site. A permanent crown will be fabricated and affixed to the tooth at a later visit.

Once your root canal is finished, recovery is usually only a matter of days. What can you to keep yourself as comfortable as possible during that time?

• The area around the affected tooth might be somewhat sore or sensitive for a few days. Let us know, and we can talk about medication to reduce pain and inflammation. If you are prescribed antibiotics, be sure to take the entire course of medication as directed.
• Taking an ibuprofen (if this is a pain reliever that is safe for you) before the anesthetic wears off will reduce the soreness in the hours immediately after the procedure.
• Wait until the numbness is gone before eating to avoid biting down on a temporary filling (or your tongue). Hot drinks are also best avoided.
• Avoid chewing on the side of the affected tooth until the restoration is complete. A soft diet is recommended for the first several days—chewy, sticky, and crunchy foods should wait.
• Continue with regular brushing and flossing.
• Call Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants immediately if you experience severe pain or visible swelling, if you have an allergic response to medication, if your bite feels uneven, or if you lose the temporary filling.

Follow the instructions we’ll give you carefully, and feel free to call us with any concerns. We want to ensure that your root canal is as pain-free and worry-free as possible.

An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in the pulp, or inside of the tooth. Endodontic treatment, also known as root canals, addresses any inflammation or infection that occurs in the root of your tooth. Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants can perform a root canal in order to remove any of the deep tissue that may be causing you pain. Endodontists also perform procedures such as an apicoectomy, and treatment of abscessed teeth.

Root Canals

You may require a root canal if you have been experiencing swelling of the gums, general tenderness, discomfort when chewing, tooth discoloration, or sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Other side effects of an infected root may include pain and swelling around the gums, jawbone, and lymph nodes, or other parts of the face.

There are different reasons why the root of a tooth can become infected. If it is cracked or chipped, has developed excessive decay, or has experienced trauma, you may notice these symptoms.

A root canal may be intimidating, but it’s a fairly straightforward procedure that can relieve you of the pain you’ve been suffering. When the treatment begins, Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants will numb the area and drill a small hole in the tooth to get access to the infected pulp. The dead pulp tissue is removed and treated with antibacterial solution. Then the open canal is filled with dental cement and closed off with a permanent crown to finish.

Apicoectomy

Although root canals are the most common treatment endodontists perform, apicoectomy procedures are also common. If this form of treatment is recommended by Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants, it usually means a conventional root canal did not solve the issue.

During this procedure, the gums are cut away from the tooth and the infected tissue removed along the root. The very end of the root is removed as well. Then the tooth root is cleaned and sealed.

Abscessed Teeth

Endodontists also commonly treat abscessed teeth. An abscessed tooth contains pus that needs to be drained. Pus can form when the inflamed pulp isn’t fixed properly or quickly enough. Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants may need to drain the pus with a small incision in the gum tissue, or perform a process similar to a root canal to remove the diseased tissue from the area.

We hope this information answers some of the questions you may have had about endodontic procedures. If you’ve noticed any symptoms that may involve inflammation or infection of a tooth, please give our Worcester office a call and schedule an appointment. Treating the problem early is essential if you wish to avoid more extensive endodontic procedures.

It's a moment many of our patients have experienced. One second you're chewing on a piece of gum, then suddenly you forget to keep chewing and swallow the entire rubbery gob whole! It's at this point you remember your mother warning you as a child that if you swallow gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your belly for seven years. Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants and our team at Central New England Endodontics and Implantology hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter your stomach and move through your digestive system just like any other piece of food. So, if you ever accidentally swallow a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

That being said, it's important to know that gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not exactly harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are an avid gum-chewer, we encourage you to chew sugarless gum, especially if you are wearing braces, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but has fewer cavity-causing ingredients. In fact, many brands contain an additive called xylitol, a natural sweetener known to fight cavity-causing bacteria. Xylitol is also known to increase salivary flow as it rinses away plaque and acid.

The fact is, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long-term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

If you have any questions about chewing gum, please contact our office. Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing!

Watching the clock tick down the final seconds until midnight, many of us- Central New England Endodontics and Implantology included- feel nostalgic about the passing year and hopeful about the new one to come. New Year’s Eve is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, with over-the-top celebrations taking place in dozens of countries. The Gregorian calendar, which is widely used in Western nations and around the world, was implemented in 1582. Since that time, December 31st has marked the final day of the year, with midnight heralding the beginning of a brand new year. In the United States, New Year’s Day is a public holiday; government offices, schools, public organizations, and many businesses are closed for the day. Ponder the following fun facts as you think about your plans for the holiday:

• Approximately one billion people watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, New York City. This televised event is one of the most iconic New Year’s celebrations in the world. For many years, watching the ball drop meant tuning in to Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, an iconic television special dear to the hearts of many viewers.
• The idea for the New Year’s Eve ball came about because of a citywide ban on fireworks. Before 1907, when fireworks became illegal in New York City, celebrations included an elaborate fireworks show. The large, glittering, illuminated ball was developed as an alternative. Although the first ball was heavy at 700 pounds, the modern New Year’s Eve ball is made of Waterford crystal and tips the scale at six tons!
• The top five New Year’s resolutions are: to lose weight, quit smoking, get a new job, return to school, or increase personal savings. However, approximately 88% of New Year’s resolutions fail. But don’t let that discourage you! Resolutions are most likely to succeed when they are clear, achievable goals. Setting out a concrete plan to achieve your resolution also boosts your chances of success.
• Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is said to bring good fortune in the new year. Collard greens, cabbage, and ham hocks are also considered lucky foods to enjoy. Just steer clear of the chicken or turkey dinners; eating poultry is a bad omen for the year to come.

Whether you plan to stay in Worcester, or head out into the crowds to watch the ball drop in Times Square, New Year’s Eve is a time to enjoy friends and family. Send your loved ones well wishes for the New Year, and look for that special someone to share a midnight kiss with for good luck!