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Hopkinton Endodontics - Judy McIntyre, DMD, MS

Endodontics Hopkinton MA

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508-686-7668
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    • Root Canal Therapy
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Endodontic Surgery

Why would I need Endodontic Surgery?

Generally, a root canal is all that is needed to save teeth with injured pulp from extraction. Occasionally, this non-surgical procedure will not be sufficient to heal the tooth and your endodontist will recommend surgery. Endodontic surgery can be used to locate fractures or hidden canals that do not appear on x-rays but still manifest pain in the tooth. Damaged root surfaces or the surrounding bone may also be treated with this procedure. The most common surgery used to save damaged teeth is an apicoectomy or root-end resection.

What is an Apicoectomy?

The image below as well as the video on the bottom of this page illustrates this simple procedure. An incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the end of the root tip. A root-end filling is placed to prevent reinfection of the root and the gum is sutured. The bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months restoring full function.

endodontic-surgery

Following the procedure, there may be some discomfort or slight swelling while the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. To alleviate any discomfort, an appropriate pain medication will be recommended. If you have pain that does not respond to medication, please call our office.

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Hopkinton Endodontics

Judy McIntyre, DMD, MS
225 Wood Street #1
Hopkinton, MA 01748
508-686-7668

Hours

  • M: 8am — 4pm
  • Tu: 8am — 5pm
  • W: by appointment
  • Th: 8am — 5pm
  • F: 8am — 3pm
  • Sat: by appointment
  • Sun: closed

Instagram

drjudyendo

🤔 Ever have those patients that you see as for 🤔
Ever have those patients that you see as for emergency treatment and then they disappear?
🤷‍♀️
Thankfully, it's rare, and our in-office systems prevent this as much as possible, so we continued to reach out to this #patient who had been feeling "much better" after their emergency appointment but consistently cancelled or rescheduled their completion #rootcanal appt
📞 ☎️ 
In January, pt reported their #tooth hurt to hot/cold and ached, and biting gave radiating pain over the weekend. Further, when they laid down, the pressure would wake them up (we hear this OFTEN - classic #endodontic symptom)
🤕😵
Thankfully, the pt finally responded and returned. 
🙏
This was a pretty calcified tooth, and am pleased with the result.  
🙌
When the pt was dismissed they were a bit incredulous as to how easy the 2nd visit was. They were ecstatic!!!
However,  this is often how #endodontic treatment goes!!!!!
🤗
A "toothache" can act like a bruise, so when you touch an existing bruise, it hurts!!!!  Same thing with #teeth
🦷
It truly is best to be proactive (rather than reactive) with toothaches and tooth discomfort. 
📢
The longer one waits with discomfort, the harder it can be to 1) achieve profound anesthesia and 2) negotiate any complications that may arise and 3) when a tooth progresses to being necrotic, the prognosis of a #rootcanal slightly decreases!  
🥼
So, don't wait, #rootcanaltreatment is SO MUCH EASIER and is most often #painfree  
😷
Medicated and temporized in January and completed with BC liner and BC sealer and used @kavokerr #zenflex files
🥳
#weareendodontists
#saveteeth
#sytm2021
#i❤savingteeth
#healthyteethdonthurt 
🐇🐰
It's Wednesday and I'm inspired by @endogenie s po It's Wednesday and I'm inspired by @endogenie s post yesterday of #fingerfatigue as this case definitely tired out my 👋
But this post is also about cracks⚡ 
😬
A year later into this pandemic, everyone's stressed out!
🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️
And teeth are suffering!!!!
🥴
😔
#patient referred by spouse [and RD too 😜] - that's love!
💕
HOT tooth and pt was in a lot of pain
🔥 🤕
But, quickly I could visualize a crack
😵
Transillumination confirmed the crack
😣
We discussed options and poor prognosis extensively but the pt 1) wanted pain relief and 2) wanted desperately to save the #tooth
🙏
#pulpvitalitytests results: 
Dx: LR6 Ir/reversible pulpitis with symptomatic apical periodontitis; recurrent decay 
Dx: LR7 Necrotic pulp with symptomatic apical periodontitis; recurrent decay/calcification HOT!!!!!!!!!!!! - most symptomatic over #30 (pt agreed) 
😷
In these cases, I work on the most symptomatic one first as referred pain is likely and I always wish to rule that out
🤗
Found: 3 canals; D crack extended into D orifice - pt informed again
🙏
We still decided to proceed and hope for the best
🤞
Closed with @brasselerusa BC Blue liner and bioceramic putty in the D canal, CPs and @coltene_us #duotemp 
💙 
Prognosis: Poor d/t distal crack, preop symptoms, necrosis and lack of tooth structure remaining - informed pt may not last 5 years
Pt still wanted to continue and proceed and knows ext next if symptoms return 
🙏🤞
#letthehealingbegin 
#truelove #iykyk
#saveteeth 
#endodontics 
#endodontist 
#rootcanaltreatment
🥳🥳
Double #mb2sday and on the same patient
🙌🙌
Everyone loves a good recall - 1.5 years later 
💕
Dx was UR6 necrotic with symptomatic apical periodontitis and was medicated; UR6 RCT completed in 2019
😷
#patient returned today with pain in their ULQ
😳
Crown was placed many years ago.
👑 
Scan taken & UL6 scheduled next week for #endodontics
☢
Dx: UL6 Necrotic with symptomatic apical periodontitis
🤕
Check out those long roots!!!  The mucositis!!!  And, the bony exostosis on the palate/tuberosity area DP to UL7
🌮🌮
#saveteeth
#endoworks
#rootcanaltreatment 
#healthyteethdonthurt 
#painfreedentistry 
#cbct 
#3dimaging 
@kavokerr
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