What is endodontics?

Unless you’ve needed a specialty dental procedure in the past, you probably haven’t heard of endodontics. So what is endodontics, and when might you need an endodontic procedure?

Endodontics is the branch of dentistry concerning dental pulp and tissues surrounding the roots of a tooth. “Endo” is the Greek word for “inside” and “odont” is Greek for “tooth.” Dentists who are trained in endodontics, like Dr. John Dougherty go through additional training and take continued education that focuses solely on the study of the dental pulp, and the treatments and procedures, such as root canals needed to keep gums and teeth healthy

The goal of endodontic treatments is to help you maintain a healthy, natural smile. Through endodontic treatment of the inside of the tooth, the dentist can help save a diseased tooth that would ordinarily need to be pulled.

Many people get fidgety just from hearing the word root canal, but often it is the only way to relieve severe tooth pain and treat infection, while saving the tooth. If infection is left untreated, not only can it continue to be extremely painful, the infection can spread from inside the tooth to the jawbone and can cause more serious problems including an abscess, bone density loss, and eventually, tooth loss.

During a root canal, the diseased inner tooth material is removed, the inside of the tooth is cleaned and treated, and then the tooth is sealed up to prevent further infection in the future. The procedure has a very high degree of success, up to 90%, and can help relieve your pain and keep your smile healthy and beautiful.

In addition to root canals, other endodontic procedures include apexification, which stimulates a tooth to continue to grow in a child that has suffered a traumatic incident, like a fall, that causes growth to stop. Doctors with training in endodontics also perform endodontic surgery and are specially trained to diagnose the cause of tooth pain, and put together treatment plans for tricky or specialized cases. In more extreme cases, Dr. Dougherty and Dr. Adhikari may recommend a patient consult with an endodontist if the issue requires surgery.

If you are taking care of your teeth and gums with regular brushing, flossing and dental check-ups, you are taking steps that will reduce the chances of ever needing an endodontic treatment, but if you ever find yourself with severe tooth pain, you will be glad to have a dentist with training and experience in this area

At Artistic Dental, we are proud to be able to offer endodontic services in house, as well as cosmetic and family dentistry, and orthodontics. If you are experiencing tooth pain, or have questions about a dental procedure, call and make an appointment today!

Learn how a CEREC crown can transform your smile

Spreading joy, improving attitude and relieving stress are just some of the side effects of smiling more often. A damaged tooth can be stressful and inconvenient, however, advancements in CEREC technology will give you even more reasons to show off your amazing smile.

Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEREC, allows for same-day restoration of dental crowns. This means that Artistic Dental patients in need of a crown no longer need to come for multiple appointments as we wait on a lab to manufacture and send back. Now, patients only need to come in for one appointment that usually takes a couple of hours.

How it works:

The advanced technology takes an exact image of your tooth and uses it to create a permanent restoration crown. After being precisely shaped, the permanent crown is immediately placed on your tooth. The quick process is just one of the benefits of the CEREC method.

Benefits of CEREC over traditional methods: 

Fixed in one visit: Other restoration systems require impressions of patient’s teeth be sent to a lab. CEREC technology is not only fast, but precise. 

No temporary crowns: Some procedures require that patients wear a temporary crown while waiting for the new one to come in. CEREC allows patients to get a new crown right way! 

Precise digital imaging: CEREC uses digital imaging to accurately scan a patient’s tooth without any uncomfortable impressions needed.

Innovative porcelain material: Metal crowns can be distracting from the natural color of your teeth. CEREC crowns are made of ceramic material that’s compatible with tissue in your mouth, plaque-resistant and anti-abrasive. The crowns can be custom-made to the exact shade of the patient’s teeth making them virtually unnoticeable.

Preserves your natural teeth: CEREC is valuable for dentists and patients because it preserves and protects your natural teeth.

The images below represent what your teeth may look before and after you get a CEREC crown:

BEFORE                          AFTER


We know our patients have busy schedules and appreciate a quick, permanent solution to a damaged tooth. The Artistic Dental staff treats you like family and wants you to have the best restorative dental experience possible.

If you have missing, damaged, stained or broken teeth, Dr. John Dougherty and Dr. Prabidhi Adhikari are highly trained in comprehensive and cosmetic dental care, which includes, in-office tooth whitening, porcelain dental veneers, tooth-colored composite fillings, bridges and tooth bonding.

To learn more about our service or to book a complementary consultation call our office at (602) 840 – 5400 or visit artisticd.com.

Artistic Dental Patient Makes a Difference in Dentistry

Dr. Dougherty originally met Dr. Ken Snyder more than 15 years ago at the St. Vincent de Paul dental clinic. It didn’t take long before the two dentist discovered their shared interests and they began playing volleyball, basketball and hiking together on weekends. Dr. D. describes Dr. Snyder as a family man and real stand-up guy. He also appreciates his great sense of humor and explained that he trains dentists on how to integrate comedy into patient care. Dr. Dougherty continues to volunteer his time and services with St. Vincent de Paul and says, “Anytime Dr. Snyder calls for help with a patient, my answer is yes.”

Dr. Ken Snyder has been a patient at Artistic Dental for 12 years. More importantly, Dr. Snyder is the Dental Director at St. Vincent De Paul’s dental clinic, which provides low-income and uninsured adults and children with comprehensive dental care. After 17 years in private practice, Dr. Snyder began running the clinic in 2001. Since that time he and his army of dedicated volunteers (including Dr. Dougherty) have helped provide dental care to as many as 700 patients a month. Dr. Snyder’s work and dedication was recently recognized when the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was awarded the Henry Schein Cares Medal, honoring an organization that demonstrates excellence in expanding access to oral health care for people in need. In October 2015 the organization was also recognized by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
We were fortunate to recently speak with Dr. Snyder about his career in dentistry, the SVdP dental clinic and their recent honors:

What do these awards mean to you and to St. Vincent de Paul?

It means quite a bit. The Henry Schein award  looked at more than 70 clinics throughout the country before narrowing it down to three. The finalists were invited to Dallas, where there was about 2,500 people from the dental industry in attendance. All three finalist received $10,000 credit for supplies from Henry Schein, the largest distributor of dental supplies. As the winner we also received a check for $15,000, which is very beneficial.

The recognition from American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry was also a big honor. The AAPD looked at clinics across the country and narrowed to two. When we went to the event in Chicago last October, we learned that the organization awarded both finalists a grant of $75,000 for 5 years.

We survive solely on grants and donations, so these awards are not only a tremendous honor recognizing the work we do as an organization, it will help us to continue to do the work we do.

What do you love most about working in dentistry?

Getting to help people is the biggest reward. We’ve put 400 children through braces, more than any other in the country. At the clinic we are changing people’s lives every day. I am fortunate to work with an incredible team of people, and I like to say, “I’m just the band leader of a world class band.”

What services do you offer at the SVdP dental clinic?

Thanks to the help of volunteer dental professionals and dental students, we are able to provide general care, oral surgery, treatment plans, orthodontia and implants. We have a small staff including myself, one other dentist and a few dental assistants  – otherwise everything we provide is through our volunteers – like Dr. John.
How did you come to be a patient at Artistic Dental?

Dr. John volunteered with us at the clinic early on, and while he was there we became good friends. When my dentist retired, I decided to go to Artistic Dental and have been a patient there ever since.

How can others get involved or volunteer at the SVdP dental clinic?

We are always looking for volunteers. If you are not in dentistry, you can help in our office. We also love having high school and college kids volunteer, especially if they are interested in exploring a career in dentistry. We’ve also started a dental assistant training program for women living in shelters to help them develop a career. Outside of volunteering, monetary donations are always helpful, and we can also use dental equipment.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign is a unique orthodontic treatment option that corrects overcrowded, crooked teeth with clear plastic aligners. Although this technology has been around for almost 17 years, it’s often considered a newer and modern alternative to metal braces. Invisalign has many advantages over traditional braces, yet many people don’t think of it as a “go-to” option for straighter teeth. Why is that?

John P. Dougherty, D.D.S., MAGD, and Prabidhi Adhikari, D.D.S., FAGD, of Artistic Dental may have an idea: change can be scary, and many of their patients are comfortable with the cost and outcome of traditional braces. Still, Invisalign is becoming a much more cost-effective solution for those wanting straighter teeth without the restrictions of traditional braces. In this blog, we explain how Invisalign works.

How Invisalign Works

Invisalign uses a series of custom-made aligners to correct overcrowded and crooked teeth for a straighter, more radiant smile. These aligners are made out of clear plastic, so they are virtually undetectable. The treatment process for Invisalign is relatively quick and easy, so patients can achieve a confident smile, faster.

The first step requires talking to an Invisalign provider, like John P. Dougherty, D.D.S., MAGD, and Prabidhi Adhikari, D.D.S., FAGD, at Artistic Dental. They will determine whether or not you’re a candidate for this orthodontic procedure. If you are a candidate, they will develop a customized treatment plan for your specific needs.

Contrary to popular belief, Invisalign isn’t right for everyone, and patients may be turned away if they have teeth or a bite that cannot be corrected with Invisalign. This system cannot support all tooth movements, so it’s important that patients talk to their dentist at Artistic Dental about their cosmetic dentistry options.

Once your questions about Invisalign, its cost, and any other concerns are answered, your dentist will take x-rays, pictures, and impressions of your teeth to create a customized treatment plan. Your dentist will use 3-D imaging software and other technologies to create the aligners. Once these have been made, you’ll be given your first few aligners to begin the treatment regimen.

You may be asked to follow a series of sequential steps when wearing the aligners. Patients are usually told to wear their aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, seven days a week, for approximately two weeks. John P. Dougherty, D.D.S., MAGD, and Prabidhi Adhikari, D.D.S., FAGD, may ask you to schedule check-ups every six to eight weeks to review your progress.

Invisalign provides many benefits over traditional, metal braces, which is why they shouldn’t be overlooked as a treatment option for crooked teeth. For example, these removable aligners can help either maintain or improve a patient’s oral hygiene. Food particles and other debris can get stuck in between the metal brackets of traditional braces, making routine brushing and flossing difficult. Invisalign prevents these mishaps by allowing patients to remove their aligners after eating and drinking for a thorough cleaning.

Despite some of the benefits, patients will need to commit to the process and remain disciplined throughout. It can be very easy to stop wearing the aligners for more than a few hours a day, and doing so will prevent you from having the smile you want.

If you are interested in learning if you are a good candidate for Invisalign, you can schedule a consultation with John P. Dougherty, D.D.S., MAGD, and Prabidhi Adhikari, D.D.S., FAGD, today and find out whether or not this treatment option is right for you!

Does Charcoal Actually Whiten Teeth?

A bright, white smile is the greatest accessory you can wear, and yellow or discolored teeth can fade the beauty of your gorgeous grin. Whether it is tooth decay, coffee, wine, tobacco products, antibiotics, or just natural wear and tear, your teeth are increasingly susceptible to staining and discoloration. Fortunately, there are many affordable solutions available in convenience stores and at dentists’ offices (think: Artistic Dental) that can help reduce the appearance of yellow teeth.

When it comes to tooth whitening products that can be used at home, some of the more popular items include over-the-counter tooth whitening kits, tooth whitening oral rinses, and whitening toothpaste. While these products may seem like viable options for a whiter, brighter smile, some of them can be ineffective.

For example, whitening mouthwashes are not nearly as effective as whitening strips, which are applied directly to the teeth. However, if you rinsed with a whitening mouthwash six to nine times a day for three to five minutes at a time, you may see results after two or three months. Nevertheless, many of these whitening products contain harsh chemicals that can damage your tooth’s enamel and irritate your gums, so it’s best to visit a dentist for professional teeth whitening services.

For patients on a budget, there may be an alternative way to naturally whiten teeth: activated charcoal. Beauty editors, health enthusiasts, bloggers, and vloggers all swear by this tooth whitening technique, but does it really work? Drs. John P. Dougherty and Dr. Prabidhi Adhikari of Artistic Dental explain the pros and cons of flaunting soot-covered teeth:

Pros

First and foremost, activated charcoal is a purifying agent that naturally absorbs contaminants in the air and body. Charcoal is often used in hospitals and poison control centers to treat drug overdoses or accidental poisonings because it traps toxic substances in your gut and removes them during bowel movements. Activated charcoal is believed to work in a similar fashion for discolored or yellowed teeth. Proponents of activated charcoal like the simplicity of the process because it requires breaking open capsules of activated charcoal, mixing the powder with water, and brushing the black paste directly onto teeth. After three to five minutes, the mixture is rinsed off, and you’ve got a slightly whiter smile.

Cons

Unfortunately, this practice may be too good to be true. Currently, there is no medical research to support the theory that activated charcoal can whiten teeth. Additionally, many dentists are concerned about the effects this abrasive paste may have on the teeth and gums over time. If patients choose to go the charcoal DIY-route for tooth whitening, they should do so sparingly and under the supervision of their dentist.

If you’re interested in fast, simple, and effective teeth whitening, look no further than Artistic Dental at the biltmore, located on Campbell Ave. Drs. John P. Dougherty and Dr. Prabidhi Adhikari of Artistic Dental provide high quality, affordable dental care to patients in Central Phoenix, Arcadia, and Scottsdale. To make an appointment for a complimentary consultation, please call 602.840.5400 today. We look forward to seeing you!