Northshore Endodontics

JAMA Pediatr. 2019;173(10):924-930. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2019.2545

Root Canal Awareness Week Is Back! May 5-11, 2019

Root Canal Awareness Week takes place in May each year and is sponsored by the American Association of Endodontists.  This week strives to change the way root canals are perceived so more teeth can be saved.  It also celebrates this tooth-saving procedure and the endodontists responsible for saving teeth. While general dentists know how to perform root canals, endodontists, like Dr. Samyn, have extra schooling focusing solely on endodontic procedures and are very skilled in their treatment techniques.  By using the most up to date materials and procedures, Dr. Samyn’s treatment is less invasive than traditional root canals, leaving you with a stronger tooth and more favorable long term outcome.

The beginning of a root canal procedure means the end of tooth discomfort. During a root canal procedure, an endodontist removes inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, then fills and seals the space. Afterward, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. Minimal discomfort and a saved tooth is a win-win outcome!

CELEBRATING THE ABILITY TO SAVE TEETH

It’s Root Canal Awareness Week, a time when we remind patients that despite their persistently negative reputation, root canals aren’t what they used to be.  Not only are they less painful for patients, but advanced technology allows endodontic specialists like Dr. Samyn to save more teeth.  Technology is allowing us to treat and save more difficult cases.  With the use of the dental operating microscope and narrow field CT scans, we can establish a better treatment plan and have a more complete picture of our patient’s situation.  Bioceramic sealing materials allow for a better, biocompatible seal compared to older sealer materials and it also increases bone growth!  New instruments offer better cleaning of the canal space and allow Dr. Samyn’s procedures to be less invasive which provides for stronger, more durable teeth for our patients.  After all, keeping healthy teeth for a lifetime is the main goal. So join us in spreading the awareness that root canals aren’t what they used to be.

 

We are excited to announce that Dr. Samyn has been named Top Dentist for 2017 in the latest Seattle Met magazine poll. To create this list, Seattle Met partnered with a national survey company Top Dentists, which sent ballots to local dentists. They asked them, “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, whom would you refer them to?” Other factors in the selection were; years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients and use of new technology and techniques.

As a root canal specialist, Dr. Samyn is committed to providing the highest value to his patients through excellent communication and the latest equipment. Advancements, such as the operating microscope and Cone Beam 3D imaging, aid Dr. Samyn in detecting things like cracks and extra canals that would not be easily seen by the naked eye.

Way to go Dr. Samyn and awesome team at Northshore Endodontics!

A well taken conventional 2-D x-ray is very helpful in the diagnostic process. Unfortunately all technology has its limitations. A 3-D image obtained through a CBCT scan can help shed much needed light in more difficult cases. A CBCT is a cone beam, or “narrow field” (low radiation) image taken in a machine which rotates around you as you stand. This offers Dr. Samyn the ability to look at your tooth from 3 dimensions on a computer screen. This can help determine if there was an extra canal that had not been previously treated or if a crack or fracture of your root may exist. In the case below, bone loss at the root tips of a lower molar is seen on a conventional 2-dimensional x-ray (on Left). All periodontal probings were normal. The x-ray was inconclusive for a root fracture. After taking a CBCT image (on Right), a pattern of bone loss could be seen to extend to the crestal bone which is highly suggestive of a vertical root fracture. Having the ability to perform 3-D imaging can help Dr. Samyn take the guesswork out of a difficult diagnosis and help our patients get the appropriate care they need.

Happy Root Canal Awareness Week!

It’s Root Canal Awareness Week, a time when we remind patients that despite their persistently negative reputation, root canals aren’t what they used to be.  Not only are they less painful for patients, but advanced technology allows endodontic specialists like Dr. Samyn to save more teeth.  Technology is allowing us to treat more difficult cases.  With the use of the dental operating microscope and narrow field CT scans, we can establish a better treatment plan and have a more complete picture of our patient’s situation.  Also, newer root canal instruments allow Dr. Samyn’s procedures to be less invasive which provides for stronger, more durable teeth for our patients.  After all, keeping healthy teeth for a lifetime is the main goal.

 

Last Thursday Dr. Jeff Samyn and Northshore Endodontics hosted an evening of continuing education for local dentists.  The guest speaker, Kristin Pelletier, spoke on communication with patients and helping them get the care that they need.  Unfortunately, patients can become overwhelmed if they have several dental issues they are dealing with.  Helping patients understand what is in their best interest dentally and from a health standpoint can help alleviate their stress.  Coming up with a treatment game plan that is comfortable from a financial standpoint also helps them receive their needed dental care.  Thank you to all of the dentists and staff who made this night a success.  We know you will take some of Kristin’s pearls and put them to use in your office to benefit your patients.

 

 

 

See more pictures HERE

Jeffrey Samyn, DDS, MSD
Northshore Endodontics
Northshore-endo.com

 

 

We are excited to announce that Dr. Samyn has been renamed Top Dentist for 2016 in the latest Seattle Met magazine poll. To create this list, Seattle Met partnered with a national survey company Top Dentists, which sent ballots to local dentists. They asked them, “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, whom would you refer them to?” Other factors in the selection were; years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients and use of new technology and techniques.

As a root canal specialist, Dr. Samyn is committed to providing the highest value to his patients through excellent communication and the latest equipment. Advancements, such as the operating microscope and Cone Beam 3D imaging, aid Dr. Samyn in detecting things like cracks and extra canals that would not be easily seen by the naked eye.

Congratulations to Dr. Samyn and the awesome team at Northshore Endodontics!

  

Dr. Jeffrey Samyn
Northshore Endodontics
Northshore-endo.com

Retaining the natural dentition of our patients is the ultimate goal because our profession recognizes that there is no substitute for the real thing. To that end, conserving tooth structure during the root canal procedures is important to avoid weakening of the root and potential tooth fractures. Recent scientific improvements in material science has provided us a revolutionary advancement in root canal therapy through an instrument called TruShape 3D Conforming Files (Dentsply Inc.).

Due to their decreasing taper and unique shape, these instruments remove less of the tooth during use as compared to standard file instruments.  The instrument has a proprietary shape that resembles an “S”, which gives the file a unique ability to flex within the canal during rotation, allowing it to conform to complex canal anatomy. Since it contacts a higher percentage of the canal wall, more bacteria are removed by the disruption of their home or “biofilm”. The super elastic properties of this instrument can adapt to different canal shapes by flattening in small, narrow parts of the canal while expanding into wider more ribbon shaped areas.

TruShape files are designed for use by endodontic specialists and training is required prior to utilizing the instruments in a clinical setting. We are excited to offer our patients the benefits of treatment with this cutting edge technology as it offers a truly unique advancement in root canal therapy.

 

The effectiveness of root canal treatment is well-established. However, misinformation continues to circulate on the Internet that may cause a patient to question the safety of endodontics. It is in the best interest of patients to understand there is no valid, scientific evidence linking root canals to other health problems, and also to understand the advancements in modern dentistry that make endodontic treatment predictable, effective and successful.