The Waterlase Advantage in Endodontics

Laser technology has advanced almost every area of dentistry in recent years, and Endodontics is no exception. Endodontics is the profession dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of infected teeth and bone. Endodontics and its objectives are not new but in our office we're proud to be on the cutting edge of a "paradigm shift". What is changing is that lasers are making Endodontists much more effective at achieving a successful outcome.

The laser works by using energy to stimulate areas and to reduce bacterial counts to a level approaching sterilization. It works well on all tissue types without the heat, vibration or noise of a drill. Our Waterlase MD laser system offers patients greater comfort, promotes faster healing and decreases postoperative pain.

By their very nature, lasers can be used to reduce discomfort during and after root canal treatment. They let the doctor work more quickly and with unprecedented accuracy. Lasers disinfect areas better, approaching sterilization and are more effective than the standard NaOCl. Lasers even reduce bleeding and promote healing during apical surgeries.

With lasers, the doctor can remove the layer of tiny debris that commonly remains following "traditional" root canal therapy...and this leftover debris may lead to the need for endodontic retreatment. Some other uses for the laser are: root desensitization, swelling & infection, gingivectomy, crown extensions and easier & faster apical surgery.

While in our office the doctor could preform these other procedures, we remain entirely focused on Endodontics (root canal therapy and apical surgeries). We only treat teeth that need endodontic care. The doctor is extremely well-trained, highly credentialed and skilled in all aspects of Endodontics and the Waterlase MD laser system all while having a gentle touch and provides top-quality care.

Comments

Brush (and floss) your teeth!

In the recent Mayo Clinic Health Letter , (Volume 37, Number 4) there was an interesting article on how tooth brushing reduces cardiovascular risks. The article states: Brushing your teeth twice daily is important for maintaining good oral hygiene. This daily routine can also benefit your heart. A study presented at the 2018 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions provides new evidence of this link. The study's 682 participants self-reported their tooth-brushing habits compared with the recommendation of twice a day for at least two minutes each time. Over an average of 28 months of follow-up, those who reported brushing their teeth less frequently and for a shorter duration had three times the risk of a first major cardiovascular event than did those who met the tooth-brushing guidelines. These cardiovascular events included heart attack, stroke, hospitalization for heart failure or dying of a cardiovascular cause. A separate study, published in the December 2018 i...

Does flossing really matter?

Recently, we came upon an article, 17 Health Advances Every Woman Deserves to Know released by the editors of the Harvard Woman's Health Watch . One of the 17 concerns was: does flossing really matter? The simple answer: yes, it does. It reads as followed: A recent report has some people thinking there's no benefit to flossing. But before you toss your floss, consider this: flossing helps prevent periodontal disease, which is linked to higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and dementia. What's more, gum disease is also associated with a greater risk of serious degenerative diseases. To avoid periodontal disease make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day AND floss before bedtime, eat a healthy diet and have regular dental check ups. We often get patients that unfortunately don't floss or we get patients that say they do but their teeth tell different stories. Endodontists are known for being the heroes and heroines of saving teeth so we can't expre...

OSHA & HIPAA Seminar.

Every year, after the craziness of the Holidays, our office participates in the annual OSHA & HIPAA training seminar hosted by Harris Biomedical. Thankfully, we don’t have to travel too far as it usually takes place in the Maggiano’s in Tysons Corner, literally a 5-minute drive from our office. Harris Biomedical has this seminar every year in the Tysons Corner area. Look out for their flyers in the mail around the beginning of the year. Check out their website for more information: http://harrisbiomedical.net/ . The four-hour seminar consisted of a two-hour session dedicated to OSHA and another two hours dedicated to HIPAA. Breakfast was included! For those who don’t know what OSHA or HIPAA means, here’s the breakdown. The Occupational Safety and Health Act, aka OSHA, are a collection of regulations that are managed and required in most states, Virginia being one of them, to guarantee employee safety and good health. OSHA, or referred in Virginia as VOSH, instructs empl...

Laser Endodontics LLC - Mary Ann Choby, DMD, MS

Search This Blog