Endodontic Patient Information

Thank you for your interest in our practice. A dental office dedicated exclusively to endodontic care.

We are specialist members of the American Association of Endodontics. (www.aae.org). We look forward to being of service to you. Our expert team, led by respected endodontic specialist Dr. Liwen Tao includes an experienced endodontic staff. We provide the highest standard of professional care in a friendly, comfortable Feng-Shui environment. We hope that the information provided here answers many of your questions about endodontic treatment. If you would like additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 727-799-6995 or Contact Us. We will respond promptly.

• Latex-free Root Canal
• Low Cost of Root Canal
• Many Insurance Providers Accepted

When You Call

Please have ready all pertinent medical, dental and insurance information available. Our friendly staff will assist you in verifying your insurance benefits. This will save time during your initial visit and allows us to offer most treatments the same day.

Your Initial Visit

Your initial visit will consist of a consultation explaining your diagnosis and treatment options. If treatment is necessary.

Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your consultation:

• Your referral slip and any X-rays if applicable
• A list of medications you are presently taking
• If possible, please download, print and fill out the Patient Registration Form and Notice of Privacy Practices and bring them with you for your visit. This will save you time in our office.

IMPORTANT: All patients under the age of 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the initial visit.

Please alert the office if you have a medical condition that may be of concern prior to treatment (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, artificial heart valves and joints, rheumatic fever, etc.) or if you are on any medication (i.e. heart medications, aspirin, anticoagulant therapy, etc.)

X-Rays

If your dentist or physician has taken x-rays, you may bring them with you to our office. If additional films are necessary, they can be taken at our facility.

Financial Information

We accept

• Cash, Debit Card, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover
• Care Credit
• Insurance Providers
• Delta Dental PPO & Premier
• Metlife
• And many others. Please call our office at 727-799-6995
• Indemnity Plans
• Discount Savings Plans

As a courtesy to our patients, we honor most discount dental plans.

Tooth or Consequences

This article on the AMA American Medical News website highlights the dangers of neglecting dental care.

• Tooth or consequences: The costs of poor dental fitness

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is an Endodontist?

An Endodontist is a dental specialist who has completed additional postgraduate training after dental school to prepare him or her in treating complicated endodontic cases. Dr. Tao has limited her practice to root canal treatment and related procedures. By referring you to an endodontic specialist, your family dentist demonstrates a personal concern for the quality of your dental care.

What about infection Control?

We are very proud of our sterilization and infection control. Every Item used is completely disposed of or heat sterilized after each use. All surfaces of the dental treatment rooms are disinfected with chemicals that kill bacteria and viruses. We pride ourselves on maintaining the highest standards of office cleanliness and sterility.

What is Endodontic Treatment?

Root canal or endodontic treatment is performed when the soft inner tissue of the tooth (the pulp) has been damaged, usually through decay or physical trauma. Treatment consist of removing the pulp and then cleaning, sterilizing, filling and sealing the root canals. The tooth remains alive, nourished by adjacent tissues of the gums and jaw. Over 90 percent of cases are successful, while a few may require additional treatment. After root canal treatment is completed, it is very important to return to your family dentist so that a permanent restoration can be placed. Usually a crown is needed to protect the tooth from fracture.

Toothache Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What is a Toothache?

Toothache is defined as pain coming from one tooth or multiple teeth and gums. Some toothaches can be just a mild twinge or severe such as constant and throbbing pain.

What Causes a Toothache?

Toothaches can be caused by cavities, crack on the tooth, loose filling material on the tooth, and gum recession. Trauma from heavy biting, accidents, sports, etc. can also cause toothaches.

What Are Symptoms of a Toothache?

When a toothache is mild, symptoms include a twinge sensation from cold, hot, or sweet. Severe toothaches lead to difficulties in biting, eating or drinking cold or hot foods, lying down, flying on an airplane, or diving. One may also experience earaches or headaches.

See also: Temporary Toothache Remedies

How Do You Treat a Toothache?

If the toothache is mild, you can try using desensitizing toothpaste such as Sensodyne as well as avoiding cold, hot, or sweet foods. To relieve the pain, you can take 1 to 2 tablets of over-the-counter pain killer. Then visit the dentist for treatment. If the toothache is severe, swelling on the face or gum can occur as well as getting a fever. With these symptoms, see your dentist immediately. Root canal therapy or other therapy may be needed.

What is Latex-Free Endodontics?

If you are allergic to latex, we have a latex-free treatment for root canal therapy. We have non-latex gloves, rubber dams and root canal filling materials available.

What are the Alternatives to Treatment?

Once the dental pulp is diseased, the only alternative to root canal treatment is extraction. After an extraction, replacing the tooth with a bridge, implant, or partial denture is generally more costly than the root canal treatment and the crown. More importantly, you lose your natural tooth.

Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?

Root canal treatment usually involves no more discomfort than a routine filling appointment. In fact, most endodontic treatment relieves pain. Most stories of painful root canals are holdovers from the days before modern techniques and effective anesthetics were available.

Can All Teeth be treated?

Some teeth cannot be treated successfully. We will explain potential complications before treatment. A few cases will require additional treatment if the tissues do not heal normally after the root canal treatment has been completed.

What Are We Doing For Your Comfort?

Customer service and patient comfort is our top priority. Keeping patients relaxed throughout treatment is one of our primary goals. For our valued patients’ comfort and convenience, we offer the following amenities:

• Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas)
• Conscious Oral Sedation
• Blankets in the treatment rooms
• Neck, back and knee cushions
• Walkman radios
• Relaxation music with headphones
• Variety of movies to choose from to watch during your procedure
• Personal pre- and post-treatment instructions
• Personalized phone communication by our caring, skilled and knowledgeable staff
• Same day treatment on an emergency basis for patients that are in extreme pain
• Personal answering service after business hours
• Treatment brochures from American Association of Endodontics
• Most importantly, Dr. Tao gives gentle treatment with her small hands, and follow up with each patient with a personal phone call after treatment.

Instructions for Patient Care Before Conscious Oral Sedation

Conscious oral sedation is a great way to help patients relax during their dental procedure.

1. Please DO NOT have the following for three days before your treatment:
   • Grapefruit juice
   • Pomegranate juice
   • Lime juice
   • Star fruit
   • Caffeine
   • No Narcotic Drugs
2. Please DO NOT drive for 24 hrs after your procedure.
3. Please DO NOT take any prescription pain medications after your procedure since you have already taken the oral sedation medication.
4. Please drink a lot of fluids such as water or juice, especially in the next 24 hrs. to hydrate yourself.

Women who are nursing need to pump their milk out after taking the medication and discard it.

Our Modern Dental Technologies

Surgical Microscope

We use special operating microscopes during endodontic treatment. Magnification and fiber optic illumination are helpful in aiding the doctor to see small details inside your tooth, such as extra canals, grooves and fractures.

Focal 3D CBCT Scan

We have a highly advanced dental 3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scanner in our office now. Our CBCT scanner provides a focused view of the problem tooth and surrounding teeth by using a minimum dose of radiation (approximately 1.5 times of regular dental film radiation). This 3D CBCT provides an abundance of information about the teeth, jaw bone structure, and diseases that cannot be found on regular dental film. From this 3D CBCT scanner, accurate data lead to better diagnosis and treatment planning decision as well as potentially more predictable outcome at a much lower cost.

Digital Apex Locators

We utilize advanced electronic root-length measuring technology to insure accuracy of instrumentation. These devices work by calculating resistance of tooth structure to provide a visual and audible signal indicating root length.

Ultrasonics

These advanced devices use a quartz crystal to vibrate small instruments to help clean the canal, negotiate calcified canals, remove a post, and other canal obstructions.

Digital Radiography

All radiographs in our office are taken with digital sensors. The acquired image is then sent to a special computer and can be instantly viewed on monitors in each operatory. These images require up to 90% less radiation than the conventional x-ray films. All images are stored in the “digital chart” for easy access and communication with patients and restorative dentists via printed reports or digital transmission.

Paperless Charting

Patients’ medical and dental history as well as treatment are electronically stored in a patient management system. Patients’ information can be located easily.

Digital Instrumentation

Our special digital handpieces control high tech nickel-titanium instruments with great precision. These sterilized units sense when torque (tightness) approaches pre-set resistance levels, and they reverse rotation to adjust to these limits. The efficiency of these instruments helps to reduce the patient’s chair time.