Laser Endodontics LLC - Mary Ann Choby, DMD, MS

Did you know that National Flossing Day is always the day after Thanksgiving? Did you also know that a large portion of patients lie about flossing? According to the American Dental Association, ADA, flossing is an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums. The ADA recommends flossing at least once a day to help remove plaque from the area between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach.  It doesn’t matter when or where you floss as long as you actually do it daily and thoroughly.  So, please stop lying about flossing and do it!

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, approa...

Nowadays, with continuous technological advancements, better methods have emerged to change the field of dentistry, and one of these is the Cone Beam Computed Tomography scanner or simply the CBCT scanner.  We love our CBCT scanner! Over the last several years, the CBCT has helped us accurately diagnosis our patient cases to provide more appropriate treatment; saving patients time and money. Since adding this essential tool to our office, we've had a gradually increasing number of patients requiring a CT scan due to complex tooth anatomy or reasons that cannot be seen on a simple 2-D image. Just recently, we've noticed the increasing number of dentists in our area that have also added a CBCT scanner to their practice. Below you'll read some of the benefits of the CBCT. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners generate multiple projections that are immediately processed into 3-D images. These 3-D images are of those of the jaws and teeth of the patient....

Despite years of training and practice, it has been difficult to correctly diagnose what can barely be seen on 2-D intra-oral images. The  Kodak 3D extra oral imaging (CBCT) shows the whole picture from the axial, coronal, and sagittal views. CBCT provides additional information that is essential when used in Endodontics for finding evidence of resorption .  This patient was diagnosed with pain in the maxillary right area. The patient was sent to this office for root canal therapy on tooth 2. Ordinary radiographs did not show a clear picture of the area. A CT was taken and the results show resorption of tooth #2 by tooth #1. Clearly the prognosis is poor. CT scans are recommended to diagnose the relationship of tooth #1 in relationship to tooth #2.   If you're in any doubts as to the prognosis of your patient's tooth, please let us help you save a tooth.

From our office to you, have a fun and safe Halloween! :) 

This patient was sent to this office for a second opinion of tooth 14.  He had been recently seen by another dentist who told him that the palatal canal was calcified and that it could not be treated endodontically. A CBCT was taken to determine whether the palatal canal could be negotiated. The results show an undiagnosed radiolucency mid root and a somewhat patent palatal canal.  In addition, there is a radiopacity within the sinus directly apical to tooth 14 suggesting a sinusitis. When this area was observed using an explorer, a huge amount of decay was found under the crown.  In addition, tooth 3 had the same decay issue present under that crown too.  The prognosis is poor for tooth 14 and the tooth unfortunately, could not be saved.    We are proud to share our cases with you. If you have any dental concerns about a tooth you are treating, please give us a call. Let us help you save time and worry. The CBCT is the best way to diagnosis a prob...