Blog – Page 4

August 28, 2020 By Dr. Susan Wood

PPE for Pups | Drive for AZ Humane Society

Phoenix Endodontic Group is collecting PPE Gowns for AZ Humane Society Trauma Hospital and challenging our referral partner offices to join us in donating. We will match your donations of PPE Gowns during the collection drive for the month of September.

AHS is facing a shortage of isolation gowns for its Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™ and intensive care units.
On average, AHS uses 950 disposable gowns per week for the nearly 18,000 sick, injured and abused homeless pets AHS takes in each year.

Start up your collection at your office today! Join us, make a difference and we will match your contribution of gowns to deliver to AZ Humane Society.
Watch the FOX 10 video to learn more.

Reach out to Kim Rowell via email: kim@phoenixendodontist.com or give her a call at 602.288.9149, to schedule your office pickup.

August 23, 2020 By Dr. Susan Wood

Questions to Ask Your Endodontist Before Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatments are highly effective in saving injured or infected natural teeth. They are typically not lengthy procedures, but most laypeople are not clear on what’s involved in a root canal or what to look for when selecting a practitioner. If your regular dentist has recommended an endodontist perform your root canal, you will want to be fully informed and feel confident about your treatment. Here are some questions to help you prepare.

What To Ask Your Endodontist Before A Root Canal Treatment

What kind of equipment is used for root canals? Endodontists typically perform the procedure far more frequently than a general dentist, so they also have specialized equipment that make the process easier and faster. This equipment can also help better resolve unexpected challenges that may present themselves during the treatment.
Do I need to take antibiotics before my root canal treatment? If you have certain types of systemic health issues, including a past history of infective endocarditis, your endodontist may prescribe antibiotic prophylaxis to ensure that you are protected should any oral bacteria enter the bloodstream. If you have an abscess, antibiotics may also be called for. Discuss your entire health history with your endodontist when your root canal is in the planning stages.
How many visits will my root canal take? Most root canal treatments are done in a single session, but occasionally you will need to return for a second appointment to finish the procedure. If that’s the case, your endodontist will place a temporary filling to protect your tooth until the treatment is finished.
How soon should I make my root canal appointment? Your regular dentist may have already communicated some of your symptoms to the endodontist, and this may give them a rough idea of how soon you need to be treated. However, some symptoms of a serious tooth injury are only apparent after a thorough clinical examination by a specialist; even if you think your symptoms aren’t bothersome, you should make an endodontic appointment as soon as one is available.
What should I do if I experience pain after my root canal? Your endodontist should provide you with a pain management plan for the first few days after your treatment, when some discomfort is normal. This may include information on using cold packs or pain-reducing medication. If you experience moderate or severe pain after the third day following your procedure, call your endodontist to see if they would like you to come back in for a recheck.

“Endodontists welcome questions from patients before, during, and after a root canal treatment,” says Dr. Susan L. Wood, who practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “We want you to understand your case fully, and we will provide you all the information you need to be comfortable and confident about your procedure.”

July 20, 2020 By Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen

When Should You Get a Dental Implant?

For those struggling with problems with natural teeth, one question can become paramount: “Should I have an endodontist treat my tooth with a root canal, or should I consider getting a dental implant?”

The decision-making process related to a dental implant involves many factors. However, there are numerous situations in which a dental implant is clearly a strong choice to rectify your dental challenges, some of which are discussed below.

Situations That Support Choosing A Dental Implant

Earlier attempts to save your natural tooth have been unsuccessful. If your natural tooth continues to have serious infection issues after a root canal or a root canal retreatment, it may be time to consider an implant.
You have had gum disease around the impacted tooth/teeth. The declining health of your gums can damage your periodontal ligament, which plays a crucial role in attaching the roots of your tooth to your jaw. If the ligament cannot regenerate itself successfully, it becomes much harder to retain a natural tooth.
You are not a strong candidate for a fixed bridge or a partial set of dentures. If you are struggling with one or several teeth adjacent to each other, it might seem more cost-effective to try a fixed bridge or partial dentures. However, not everyone can tolerate the feel of dentures and the care they require, and the alterations required for a fixed bridge require the adjacent teeth to be structurally sound.
Your natural tooth is already gone. If you have already lost your tooth, a dental implant can play a key role in preventing further tooth loss and bone deterioration in the jaw. Unreplaced teeth can cause the remaining teeth to crowd together and can obviously interfere with clear speaking or eating a normal diet.
You are in danger of losing an entire arch of natural teeth. In some cases, the more natural teeth you have that are in poor shape, the less likely a solution other than a dental implant will work. Dental implants can be customized to replace anything from one tooth to an entire arch of teeth.

“The question of how to treat failing natural teeth has an answer unique to each patient,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, who practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “We can perform in-depth examinations and provide evidence-based treatment plans whether a dental implant, a root canal, or another type of intervention will provide the best long-term results.”

June 24, 2020 By Dr. Susan Wood

Can Every Tooth Be Saved With Root Canal Therapy?

Root canals are often the treatment of choice when you develop a serious infection involving your natural tooth’s pulp, or if your tooth has been chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged. However, while root canals have a high success rate and a high patient satisfaction rate, not every root canal ends up being a permanent solution.

The factors that initially bring a patient to the endodontist influence whether their tooth can be saved by a root canal. Here is a short list of conditions that can make saving a tooth with a root canal treatment more challenging.

Factors That Can Interfere With Saving Natural Teeth With Root Canals

Teeth with long or unusually curved roots. Endodontists use special tools and seal the roots. If a patient’s canals are hard to clean, it may be less likely that the treatment will be permanently successful.
A crack in the tooth root. Even though teeth treated with a root canal are protected above the gum line with a restoration such as a crown, if the root itself develops a crack, infection can re-enter the tooth.
Advanced periodontal disease. Your gums play an integral role in your oral health and if you have severe or recurrent gum disease, saving your natural tooth through a root canal is far less likely to be successful.
Previous root canal treatment of the tooth. There are ways to treat a tooth if the original root canal fails, such as a retreatment or an apicoectomy. However, the success rates for additional procedures are not as high as for a first-time root canal treatment.

“Although root canal treatment often provides a lifelong solution for a damaged or infected natural tooth, it isn’t the best choice for every patient,” says Dr. Susan L. Wood, an endodontist who practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Our staff can perform a thorough examination and advise you on your best treatment options.”

May 20, 2020 By Dr. Susan Wood

May Is Save Your Tooth Month

While 2019 may have been the year of decluttering, thanks to author Marie Kondo, this year people are considering the value of conserving the things that matter the most to them. Saving family scrapbooks is a no-brainer when it comes to things to hold on to, but what about saving one of the most important parts of our body – our teeth?

In 2019, the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) expanded their Root Canal Awareness Week, traditionally observed during May, into Save Your Tooth Month. The organization has amplified its message that endodontics – the dental specialty area concerned with treating and better supporting the function of dental pulp – plays an important role in helping clients retain use of their natural teeth for a lifetime.

Why Is Saving My Teeth Important?

Our teeth are crucial to our ability to eat, speak, and smile. When a tooth is extracted because it has been damaged by infection or trauma, other teeth can shift, leading to a host of dental problems.

A smile (or lack of one) is one of the first things others notice, so if you are missing even a few natural teeth, your self-confidence can plummet. Dental restorations such as bridges and dental implants can provide significant support to those who have lost a natural tooth, but the procedures to provide them are often costly and require repeated dental visits to complete.

Dr. Susan L. Wood, who practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group, says, “Saving your natural tooth should always be your first choice. Nothing looks or functions exactly like a natural tooth.”

How Can Endodontics Help Preserve My Natural Teeth?

Endodontic dental specialists have benefited from improvements in technology and technique in the last generation and have multiple ways to help save your natural teeth. Some of their most common services include:

Root canal treatment
Endodontic retreatment of failing root canals
Apicoectomy, or root-end resection, which treats the bone around the tip of your tooth root
Stabilizing and providing emergency care to teeth that have been knocked out or suffered other types of dental trauma

“The primary goal of endodontics is to save your natural teeth,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, founder of and current practitioner at the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Our staff provides individualized guidance to each client on the best ways to help them keep their teeth and avoid extractions whenever possible. Our offices stand ready to help you deal safely with all your endodontic needs.”

April 22, 2020 By Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen

How Long Does It Take Dental Implants to Heal?

When considering dental implants, you can expect your endodontist to allow three to six months for healing, after placing the implant and before placing a permanent restoration on top of the tooth. The implant and its crown will take the place of your natural tooth. There are several factors influencing how quickly a dental implant will heal, and their interplay determines how quickly you can expect the process to be finished.

What Influences The Dental Implant Healing Process?

Bone loss in the area of the jaw receiving the implant. If the dental implant is replacing a missing tooth, or if the natural tooth being extracted was damaged, the bone density at the implant site may not be sufficient to allow the metal implant post and the jawbone to grow together. A bone graft may be required to prepare the site before the implant can be placed. In this case, the implant may require up to six months of healing before a permanent restoration can be placed on top of it.
Location of the natural tooth being replaced by the dental implant. A dental implant intended to replace a front tooth with its small roots will generally take less time to heal than back teeth or teeth with longer roots.
The presence of gum disease or infection in the natural tooth to be replaced. Active infection in a tooth or gum disease near the implant site will require a longer healing period because the infection or disease must first be controlled and healed.

Often, a temporary restoration such as a crown can be placed on a dental implant while it is healing. This is an option when it will not endanger the integration process, which will be evaluated by your endodontist.

“Two of the most important phases of the dental implant process are the diagnostic and planning stages,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, who practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Careful examination of the current state of a patient’s teeth and gums can help us provide a more accurate healing timeline.”

March 31, 2020 By Dr. Susan Wood

Which is Better – Root Canal or Extraction?

A damaged or infected tooth needs to be assessed by a dental professional as soon as possible. Endodontists are dental professionals who specialize in saving natural teeth through root canal treatments and other procedures. However, even with today’s technology, the most skilled of endodontists cannot save every tooth. There are times when the best course of action is simply to have a failing tooth removed.

Situations In Which A Root Canal Is Better

The symptoms of a damaged tooth are recognized early. If you notice severe pain while chewing, a pimple on your gum, tender gums, lasting sensitivity to hot or cold foods, or certain other symptoms that indicate your tooth’s pulp is infected, schedule an appointment with your dentist or endodontist immediately. The sooner your tooth can be examined, the more likely it is your natural tooth can be saved.
Your tooth’s structure is still strong. Root canals remove the nerve pulp inside your tooth’s roots and replace them with a biocompatible material. A crown is placed over the treated tooth to provide it with additional support. This treatment can be effective long-term 95 percent of the time, but if your tooth’s structure has been eroded by decay or injury, it is much less likely to be successful.
Your tooth roots are relatively easy to clean. The success of a root canal hinges largely on how well your endodontist can remove infection from your tooth roots before sealing the canals. If you have long or unusually shaped root canals, this may be difficult.

When Extraction Is Better

Your dental professional may recommend a tooth extraction if any of the following are true:

The tooth is badly decayed
The tooth has suffered a severe fracture
The tooth isn’t supported well by the surrounding gum tissue due to periodontal disease
The tooth has received a root canal treatment or retreatment and is still failing

“Your endodontist can determine whether an extraction and tooth replacement or a root canal is the better option for your natural tooth,” says Dr. Susan L. Wood, who practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Both treatments are effective in restoring your mouth’s function and appearance.”

March 17, 2020 By Dr. Susan Wood

Covid-19 Update

With the recent news surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we wanted to reach out and share precautions that are being taken for the health of our patients and staff.

Phoenix Endodontic Group is open for regular business, with normal hours. While there are currently no plans to alter hours, we will be sure to keep you informed of any changes. We look forward to welcoming you to our office, where there is no higher priority than health and safety.

The latest recommendations from the American Dental Association recommend Dentists postpone elective procedures for dental patients during the next three weeks. Phoenix Endodontic Group is an emergency based practice and we are pleased to welcome your patients that are in pain.

Our team is well prepared to care for patients in the safest manner possible. As part of our standard practice we use rubber dams during our endodontic procedures. The rubber dam has evolved from a system that was designed to isolate teeth to one of sophistication for the ultimate protection of both patient and clinician and is mandatory in root canal treatment. Salient advantages of using rubber dam in endodontics include patient protection from aspiration of endodontic instruments, tooth debris, medicaments, and irrigating solutions.

The rubber dam reduces the cross-contamination of the root canal system, and it also proves an excellent barrier to the potential spread of infection by keeping saliva out of the working zone so oral bacteria and viruses (such as the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19) are not aerosolized during the procedure. As a result, the placement of the rubber dam is considered the standard of care by professional organizations.

While the prevalence of the virus in our community is low at this time, our leadership team is staying up to date on public health recommendations and announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the Arizona Department of Health Services, and other leading health organizations.

In support of the health and well-being of patients and staff, we are currently taking many precautions, including:

Increased frequency of disinfecting high-touch areas
Staff education and ongoing monitoring of CDC guidelines
CDC-recommended general hygiene reminders posted in restrooms and other spaces

To prevent the spread of illness and align with CDC recommendations, we urge you to stay home when you are feeling sick.

For the most up to date information regarding Coronavirus symptoms, prevention and treatment, and frequently asked questions, we recommend the following websites:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Arizona Department of Health Services

World Health Organization

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your appointment or if you will not be able to keep your scheduled appointment due to illness, please contact our office at 602-242-4745 to speak with a team member.

Phoenix Endodontic Group remains open daily and we look forward to seeing you at your appointment. Be assured that the well-being of our patients and community is of utmost importance to us.

Wishing you all good health,

Jacqueline S. Allen
Jacqueline S. Allen, D.D.S., M.S.

Susan L. Wood
Susan L. Wood, D.D.S
Diplomate, American Board of Endodontics

February 20, 2020 By Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen

Can You Do a Dental Implant in One Day?

Sometimes to get the right answer about your oral health, you have to ask the right question. If your question is “Is it possible to perform a dental implant in one day?” the answer is a definite yes. However, if your question is “Can I have a dental implant done in one day?” the answer is a solid maybe.

Over the past few decades, dental implants – whether to replace one tooth or an entire arch of teeth – have become a popular alternative to dentures. However, a dental implant is a complex procedure. Your dentist or oral surgeon will need to conduct a thorough examination of the state of your teeth and gums to determine if a single-day implant would be successful for you in the long term.

Factors That Determine Whether A Single-Day Implant Process Is Possible

How many natural teeth need to be replaced. The greater the number of failing or missing natural teeth, the more pre-treatment assessment planning it will take to ensure the success of a single-day implant. If failing teeth are to be extracted at the same time as the dental implants are placed, this will also impact how your dental team approaches the procedure.
The bone density of your jaw. Dental implants are secured by metal posts or fixtures that are placed in your jawbone. If you need numerous implant posts to support the crowns that will replace your lost teeth above the gumline, you may need to undergo bone grafts to increase bone density.
Your gums and remaining teeth must be healthy. For a single-day dental implant procedure to succeed, your mouth should be free of gum disease and infected or damaged teeth.
You can commit to a significant healing period after your single-day implant is delivered. After a dental implant procedure, you must carefully watch what you consume for six to eight weeks, while your implants integrate into your jaw.

“Advancements in both technology and dental implant techniques allow us to place dental implants faster and with far less discomfort than ever before,” says Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen, an endodontist in practice at the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Our staff can evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums and provide an accurate estimate of how long your dental implant may take to complete.”

February 10, 2020 By Dr. Jacqueline S. Allen

Dr. Jacqueline Allen Now Offers Minimally Invasive Laser Dental Endodontic Treatment

Dr. Jacqueline Allen is qualified to utilize the minimally invasive Waterlase™ to treat dental conditions with less discomfort to the patient and in some cases use less to no anesthetic. Dr. Allen completed the advanced endodontics continuing education with Dr. William Chen, at the Chen Laser Institute. The course provided in depth training for laser-assisted endodontics to help meet many of the toughest clinical challenges and techniques on single and multiple root canal therapy using the laser, among other advanced endodontic techniques.

Waterlase Dentistry uses laser energy and a gentle spray of water to perform a wide range of dental procedures — without the heat, vibration, and pressure associated with the dental drill, and in many cases without the blood of a traditional scalpel. Dr. Jacqueline Allen offers Waterlase™ treatments to patients who would prefer to receive the latest laser treatment as an alternative to more traditional oral surgery methods.

Those who suffer from anxiety due to past dental experiences or fear of needles are more likely to feel calm and relaxed when receiving treatment with the gentle Waterlase™ system, with many patients reporting no or less pain, and many cases of fewer shots. Laser-based dental care has also been shown to cause less swelling and bleeding at the treatment site. Patients have been shown to recover more quickly, with faster healing, with the use of Waterlase, making dental care a much more convenient and pleasant experience.

Patients who are interested in making an appointment with an endodontist in Phoenix, AZ., who utilizes laser technology to treat oral problems are invited to schedule an appointment with Dr. Allen’s office at their convenience. To learn more about this cutting-edge dentistry technology visit biolase.com.