|
3. How much time will it take?
After your examination, treatment usually lasts for 60-90 minutes. In some cases, several visits are neccessary to get past obstructions and adequately clean the canals. Curved roots and calcified canals can also increase the complexity and therefore the treatment time. If you have a portable listening device with headphones (such as an MP3 player, walkman, personal CD player etc), feel free to bring it with you if you like.
Should I stop taking my medications before the visit?
No. Patients should take all medications as perscribed by their doctor. A thorough review of your medical history will be done to ensure that our treatment does not interfere with the medications you are already taking.
Can I eat after my root canal?
When non-surgical root canal therapy (NSRCT) is complete, a temporary filling will be placed into the top of the tooth so that food and debris do not pack into the tooth. This will be soft for several hours. Plan for a soft meal after your visit, and avoid foods such as Doritos, popcorn, and nuts.
What can I expect to feel after my root canal?
The pain that was caused by hot and cold will be gone imediately. However, it is common for teeth to be tender to chewing for one to two days after having a root canal. The vast majority of patients will only need mild over-the-counter pain medications to relieve the discomfort. If you have pain that lasts longer or is more severe, please contact Dr. Vaughn at the emergency number found on his card for assistance.
How long do I wait to see my regular dentist?
Make an appointment right away! Unless otherwise directed by Dr. Vaughn, there is no need to wait, and waiting could mean the loss of the tooth. Often decay or cracks in the tooth is what caused the tooth to need a root canal. This prior damage along with additional drilling neccessary for treatment can leave a tooth at great risk of further fracture. It is essential to success that the tooth is properly restored by your general dentist as soon as possible. Your referring dentist will build-up and/or place a crown on the tooth to minimize risk of recontamination and root fracture so that your investment in dental health is protected.
|
What is a Cone Beam CT?
New Technologies: Kodak 9000
3D (High-Resolution Cone Beam Computed Tomography)
Our new Kodak 9000 3D is an extraoral imaging
system that aids in the diagnosis and treatment of complex endodontic
cases. The system's advanced CMOS detector produces low-dose,
high-resolution 3D CBCT images.
In the 3D mode, the Kodak's 9000 3D's unique
localized field of view limits radiation while providing volumetric
studies of small areas of the jaws and supporting structures.
Reconstruction of the images using a voxel (VOlume piXEL) size of 0.076
mm results in high-resolution images for more accurate diagnoses and
improved treatment planning.
|
 |
Additional benefits of the Kodak 9000 3D include:
1.) Precise visualization of dental structures in their actual spatial
representation. Displaying axial, coronal, sagittal, and cross-sectional images,
the unit provides 3D reconstructions that accurately depict structures in their
actual relationships to improve diagnosis.
2.) Radiation that is more than 100 times less radiation than a medical CT
scan.
3.) Reconstructions of 3D images in under 40 seconds, with real-time viewing
of the image as it is being recorded.
4.) Ability to print, transfer image data via optical media (CD) for viewing
with an imbedded viewing applet, and send screen "snapshots" of significant
findings by email.
Comparison of the effective radiation dose necessary to image with various
modalities are listed below:
CBCT is between 30 and 400 µSv*
Medical CT of the maxilla and mandible is 2,100 µSv
Full mouth series F Speed Film < 0.033 mSv
Direct Digital Detector Varies; up to 90% reduction over āDā speed film
Bitewings (4 films)
F Speed Film < 0.007 mSv
Film-based panoramic radiograph 0.007 mSv
Chest x-ray 0.01 mSv ā 0.05 mSv
Skull x-ray 0.1 mSv ā 0.2 mSv
Abdominal x-ray 0.6 mSv ā 1.7 mSv
Barium exam 3 mSv ā 8 mSv
Head CT 2 mSv ā 4 mSv
Body CT 5 mSv ā 15 mSv
NOTES:
Annual dose equivalent by dental imaging in US: 0.03 mSv/year
Average natural background radiation in the US: 3 mSv/year (.01 Sv/day)
General public exposure limit: 1 mSv/yr
Pregnant women: whole-body effective dose limit of 5 mSv/9 months
Average galactic and cargo radiation from 5-hour flight at 35,000 feet: 0.03 mSv
Average radiation from galactic radiation in Denver, CO: 0.510 mSv/year
FMX with F-speed film is equivalent: 3 days of background radiation exposure
*A millisievert (mSV) measures the biologic effects of radiation and allows
comparison between radiation exposure of a portion of the body with radiation
exposure of the entire body, as opposed to the physical aspects, which are
characterised by the absorbed dose, measured in grays.
1000 mSv = 1 Sv
Frequently used multiples are the millisievert (1 mSv = 10ā3 Sv) and
microsievert (1 Ī¼Sv = 10ā6 Sv).
Adapted from: Frederiksen NL. X-Rays: What is the Risk? Texas Dental Journal.
1995;112(2):68-72; The Annual Dental Radiation Safety Briefing 2004, USAF.
Available at: https://decs.nhgl.med.
navy.mil/DOWNLOAD/rad.ppt. Accessed February 14, 2008; and FAA Publication AC
120-52, Radiation exposure of air carrier crewmembers, US Department of
Transportation. 1990. Available at: www.solarstorms.org/FAAAirlines.html.
Accessed March 18, 2008
More information is available from the
Kodak 9000 3D web site.
(Used by permission ©2010 Martin D. Levin, DMD)
| 
