General Information

An endodontist is a dentist that has completed 4 years of dental school and then completed a 2 year post graduate program specializing in the treatment of root canals.  Dr. Bastulli graduated from Case Western Reserve School of Dentistry in 1986 and The University of Maryland at Baltimore with a Certificate in Endodontics in 1997.  Dr. Bastulli received his Diplomate, board certification, status in 2002.

Endodontics---also known as root canal therapy, is a common procedure that is performed to save an inflamed or infected tooth.  "Endo" is the Greek word for "inside" and "odont" is Greek for "tooth".  Endodontic treatment treats the inside of the tooth.

Example: Mandibular (Lower) Molar

Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected.  The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes:  deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth.  In addition, a blow to the tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

Signs of pulp damage include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat and/or cold, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums.  Sometimes, there are no symptoms.

The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the tooth, then fills and seals the space.  Treatment saves teeth that would otherwise need to be extracted.  Most endodontically treated teeth last a life time.

With modern techniques and anesthetics, most people report that they are comfortable during the procedure.  But cleaning, shaping,and filling the root canal system does cause inflammation, so it is common to experience minor soreness in the area for two to three days after treatment.  The discomfort can usually be relieved with over-the-counter -medications.