Jamie D. Ring, DMD Tumblr Blog

A root canal specialist, Dr. Jamie Ring owns and manages a private dental practice in Westminster, Colorado, with his wife, Dr. Karla Ring. Dedicated to saving teeth and practicing compassionate endodontic care, Drs. Jamie and Karla Ring place their patients first. Their practice, Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Prof. LLC, is recognized by the American Association of Endodontists. Directed by Dr. Jamie Ring, Foothills Endodontic Specialists focuses on patient comfort and exceptional care. Dr. Jamie Ring provides comfortable patient chairs, television monitors, and anxiety remedies to ease even the most nervous patients. His practice meets the high sanitation and infection control standards set by the American Dental Association, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Dr. Jamie Ring also employs advanced equipment such as digital X-rays to reduce radiation emissions and dental microscopes to provide thorough examinations. Dr. Jamie Ring moved to Colorado with his family in 1991 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1995, he graduated as valedictorian from Smoky Hill High School. He then earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Colorado at Denver and attended Temple University School of Dental Medicine. In 2003, Dr. Jamie Ring graduated from dental school with his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) and began practicing general dentistry. His endodontic residency was completed at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Dr. Jamie Ring has contributed an article on implant screw mechanics to the Journal of Oral Implantology and an article on endodontic retreatment to the Journal of the American Dental Association. He is a current faculty member at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and a part-time faculty member at Denver General Health. He also holds membership with the Colorado Dental Association and the American Dental Association.

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An Overview of the AAE Live Learning Center

A graduate of Temple University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Jamie Ring currently serves on the faculty at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry and is the owner of Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Prof. LLC, where he also performs procedures as a root canal specialist. Committed to his field, Dr. Jamie Ring belongs to a number of professional organizations, including the American Association of Endodontists (AAE). Dedicated to furthering the education, research, and knowledge resources of the endodontist specialty, the American Association of Endodontists serves its members and the public at large. A specialty concerned with saving teeth via procedures that address diseases and issues that effect the interior of teeth, endodontists perform root canals, dental implants, and other surgical solutions. Open to anyone who works in the field, from predoctoral students to retired professionals, the AAE offers several benefits, including the AAE Live Learning Center. A comprehensive library of endodontic research and materials, the AAE Live Learning Center features over 1,500 hours of content and more than 1,200 hours of continuing education material. Accessible from any device with an internet connection, the center is led by and contains work from the leading experts in the field. With articles and presentations, the AAE Live Learning Center can communicate new information to professionals or train staff on new procedures.

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The ADA Affirms Infection Control Guidelines

A graduate of the Temple University School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Jamie Ring is the owner of Foothills Endodontic Specialists in Westminster, Colorado. To stay abreast of trends in treatment and network with his contemporaries, Dr. Jamie Ring maintains a professional membership in the American Dental Association (ADA). The ADA recently issued a statement regarding infection control procedures that must take place in dentist offices. These protocols have been put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help minimize the risk of infection and the spread of disease. All dentists must conform to these guidelines, which were released by the CDC in March of 2016 and are titled, “CDC Summary of Infection Prevention Practices in Dental Settings: Basic Expectations for Safe Care.” Surfaces and equipment must be cleaned and sanitized before patients are brought into examining areas. This includes chairs, lights, drawers, and countertops. Alternatively, some equipment may be fitted with protective covers that can be removed and replaced after each patient. All dental tools and implements must be sterilized between each patient exam, while disposable items must be discarded and are forbidden for reuse. Staff members must wear protective face and hand coverings to prevent the spread of germs. To learn more, visit www.mouthhealthy.org.

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Common Indications for Root Canal Therapy

An experienced endodontist, Dr. Jamie Ring completed his specialized residency at Nova Southeastern University and has remained active in his field as a member of the American Association of Endodontists. Dr. Jamie Ring now owns and operates Foothills Endodontic Specialists in Westminster, Colorado, where he has performed root canal treatments to address a variety of dental complaints. Root canal treatments, which clean the nerve channels within the tooth and remove infected interior structures, may be necessary for a variety of reasons. Many patients present in need of a root canal due to an infection in the tooth, which in turn causes a pus-filled abscess to develop at the end of the root. An infection of the pulp may also cause such painful secondary symptoms as drainage into the gums or through the cheek, bone loss around the end of the root, and swelling that radiates into other regions of the head and neck. A root canal can remove the infectious material and provide relief for these symptoms. Similarly, many patients need a root canal to address a large cavity that has deepened to affect the tooth's pulp. The pulp then begins to grow bacteria, which either causes painful inflammation or tissue death. Patients with dead tissue may not experience any pain at all, yet the decayed material still requires removal lest it spread and cause further damage. Whether the patient is comfortable or whether there is severe pain, which often worsens with pressure or exposure to hot and cold, root canal therapy can address the causal damage and protect surrounding healthy tissue.

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Signs That a Root Canal May Be Necessary

Dr. Jamie Ring has been practicing dentistry for more than a decade. Initially practicing general dentistry after graduating from the Temple University School of Dental Medicine, he soon enrolled in an endodontic residency program at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Jamie Ring now provides high-quality root canal treatments to patients at Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Prof., LLC, in Colorado. There are several things that may lead to a root canal, from advanced tooth decay to major tooth damage. However, there are several symptoms that may reveal a need for a root canal. Pain is one such symptom. Pain resulting from a need for a root canal may range from slight to extreme and feel as if it is throbbing. Posture can affect the intensity of the pain and certain stimuli, like pressing the tooth or eating something cold, can result in a sudden burst of pain. Swelling and tenderness of the gums may also occur. Most swelling ranges from slight to a noticeable lump and is often found near the tip of the root rather than where the tooth and gum meet. A tooth with swollen gum around it often appears elevated when compared to those around it. This can extend to the face and neck and the lymph nodes near the affected tooth may also become inflamed. These symptoms are not always present and, if they do show, may not be persistent. Pain and swelling indicating a root canal may come and go on a daily or even monthly basis. They can also be continual with the actual pain levels rising and falling over time without fully going away.                            

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Root Canal Treatment vs. Dental Implants

Based in Colorado, endodontist Dr. Jaime Ring specializes in root canal therapies and treatments. In addition to providing root canal services, Dr. Jaime Ring helps patients learn the difference between root canal treatments and dental implant and decide which is the best option for their particular cases. When the root of a tooth is infected or injured, a root canal may be needed. The area of the infected tooth is numbed before a small hole is drilled into the pulp chamber. The root canal specialist then uses small files to clean out the infection and reshape the canals. Once the tooth is cleaned out, it is filled with a permanent filling material and capped with a crown. However, a root canal doesn’t always fix the underlying problem, and there is a chance the tooth will need to be treated again or more thoroughly. For example, if the decaying tooth is accompanied by periodontal (gum) disease, additional measures may need to be taken. In addition to a root canal, an endodontist may suggest dental implants. A dental implant consists of a titanium rod inserted directly into the jawbone and a crown placed on top. Implants can be used for one tooth or for several teeth that have been extracted. Dental implants do not decay like regular teeth and therefore can last several decades. However, if there is significant bone loss in the jaw or gum, implants might not be an option. It also tends to be more expensive than root canal therapies.

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Use of Advanced Technology in Endodontics

Based in Westminster, Colorado, Dr. Jaime Ring specializes in root canal therapies and treatments. Dedicated to patient satisfaction, Dr. Jaime Ring utilizes advanced technological equipment in his practice. Endodontics has always been at the cutting edge of medical technology. State-of-the-art instruments commonly used in the field include advanced surgical microscopes to view teeth undergoing root canal treatment and retreatment, radiographic equipment to take images of the teeth and jaw from different angles, and electronic apex locators to accurately measure length in order to make precise cuts. Additionally, endodontists use precision cutting tools and files are essential, sonic machines to remove tissue, and ultrasonic machines for irrigation. In the past decade, lasers have been increasingly used in endodontics. Studies have shown its effectiveness in the removal of debris and other materials as well as its use as a disinfectant tool. The use of lasers can also make root canals far less painful for the patient than in traditional methods used in past decades.                            

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What Happens after Root Canal Treatment

Dr. Jamie Ring is owner of Foothills Endodontic Specialists in Westminster, Colorado, where he focuses much of his practice on root canal treatments. To ensure proper healing, Dr. Jamie Ring and his staff educate patients on appropriate post-treatment care. In many cases, the root canal procedure involves two steps. First, the endodontist removes the soft tissues and infection inside the tooth, places medication inside the tooth, and seals it with a temporary filling to allow any infection to heal. After this first step, patients may feel sensitivity and inflammation when the local anesthetic wears off, but ibuprofen or naproxen are usually enough to control the discomfort. Patients can typically return to normal activities the next day and brush and floss as they normally would. Because the treated tooth is structurally weak at this point, it is wise to avoid chewing on that side, as doing so may cause the temporary filling or the tooth itself to break and reintroduce infection. As with any dental treatment, patients should keep all follow-up appointments and notify the endodontist if extreme pain or swelling occurs. Once the infection clears, the second step involves placing a permanent filling inside the tooth and possibly covering the tooth with a crown. The tooth is fully functional after permanent restorations are in place and can be treated the same as a natural tooth with regard to biting, chewing, and oral hygiene practices.

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A Brief Explanation of Root Canals

Throughout his career as a Colorado-based endodontist and dental practice owner, Dr. Jamie Ring has established himself as a dedicated oral health professional. As a practicing endodontist, Dr. Jamie Ring specializes in root canals, a term familiar to most people. One of the most common endodontic treatments, root canals have the potential to save teeth and relieve severe tooth pain. Endodontics focuses primarily on the inside of the tooth, which plays host to a combination of nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels known as “pulp.” When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, it can cause pain or even form an abscess. During a root canal, the endodontist will remove the damaged pulp and clean the inside of the tooth. Once the procedure is done, the endodontist will restore the tooth with a filling or protective crown. With the original tooth still in place, patients enjoy more efficient chewing and a highly natural appearance.                            

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Requirements for a Successful Root Canal

As owner of Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Dr. Jamie Ring routinely performs root canal treatments. Dr. Jamie Ring draws on more than 11 years of experience in his field and remains current as a member of the American Association of Endodontists. For a root canal to be effective, the endodontist must fully treat all available canals. Most teeth have two canals at least 50 percent of the time, yet some practitioners seal a tooth having only treated one canal. Fortunately, proper imaging technology can help to avoid this outcome. Patients should take care to find an endodontist with the equipment to visualize all tooth canals as well as the professional expertise to identify them. Any practitioner who performs a root canal should also be able to treat the full length of the canal. This requires extremely small and flexible cleaning files that can reach around curves or obstacles that make the end of the canal difficult to access. With the proper equipment, however, and with the experience to find the end of a canal, an endodontist has a better chance of fully removing all canal material. Full removal of such material also requires thorough irrigation and subsequent protection with proper filling, which helps to prevent bacterial leakage.

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A Brief History of Root Canals

As owner and founder of Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Dr. Jamie Ring performs root canals on a regular basis. Completing his residency in endodontics at Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Jamie Ring remains apprised of developments in the field as a member of the American Association of Endodontics. Root canal treatment stands out as one of the primary functions of endodontics, a word deriving from the Greek words for “inside” and “tooth.” In fact, research shows that dental practitioners have been working inside the tooth for more than 2,000 years. A skull dated back to 200 BCE includes a bronze wire inside a tooth, similar to the way today's rubber fillers take the place of pulp after a root canal treatment. Data from shortly thereafter this era shows evidence of people undergoing drainage of the root canal, and the occasional removal and coverage of the pulp. In 1756, Philip Pfaff performed the first modern root canal when he drained his patient's teeth and filled them with gold. The next major advances did not come until the early 1900s, however, at a time when x-ray technology and aesthetics improved the procedure for both patient and practitioner. It became possible for dentists to save more teeth that otherwise would have been subject to extraction. The procedure developed quickly after this time, and in 1943 the American Association of Endodontics had its first official meeting. In 1958, equipment manufacturers began to develop specialized instrumentation for root canal treatment, and endodontics became an official American Dental Association specialty shortly thereafter. By the late 1960s, Dr. Jack Jacklich had begun creating many of the field's standardized instruments, which have helped to shape root canal treatment into what it is today.                            

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Importance of Dental Pulp and the Tooth’s Interior

As owner of Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Dr. Jamie Ring leads a Westminster, Colorado, practice that offers patients quality care for issues such as toothaches and cracked and fractured teeth. Dr. Jamie Ring frequently addresses pulp damage, which can require treatments such as apexification or a root canal. The pulp is the tooth’s soft inner connective tissue and sits in a central pulp cavity within the hard surrounding bone. The pulp cavity extends as a canal all the way to the root of the teeth, where nerves and blood vessels exit. This creates a connection with surrounding tissue, which can result in gum inflammation when pulp issues occur. Pulp plays a number of important roles, including providing protection and vitality to the teeth. Losing the pulp does not necessarily translate into tooth loss, but it takes away an important protective mechanism. The pulp also has a critical role in the early stages of tooth formation in children. When pulp is compromised through decay or infection, a root canal is often recommended.

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Glance at the Screw Mechanics of Oral Implants

As the owner of Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Prof. LLC, Dr. Jamie Ring oversees daily business operations and diagnoses and treats the dental needs of patients. In 2003, Dr. Jamie Ring contributed to a paper in the Journal of Oral Implantology, titled “Implant Screw Mechanics and the Settling Effect: An Overview.” In the paper, Dr. Ring and his colleagues discuss the problem of screws in dental implants coming loose and fracturing. They suggest that a contributing factor is the practitioner’s misunderstanding of the mechanics involved in securing the screws. In addition to outlining these mechanics, the doctors stress the importance of reducing the separating forces that lead to screws loosening. This combined with increasing the clamping force, they contend, serve as sufficient preventative measures. Additionally, they observe that the process of setting, caused by the rough surfaces of implants growing smooth over time, can affect the initial tightening force by as much as 10 percent. They conclude that retightening should take place during the same appointment the implant is installed.                            

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Six Symptoms That Indicate the Possible Need for a Root Canal

A faculty member at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry, Dr. Jamie Ring leverages more than a decade in dentistry and endodontic care to lead his private practice Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Prof. LLC. Dr. Jamie Ring helps patients find reprieve from tooth injuries and infections.Specializing in root canals, an endodontist provides relief to inflamed or infected pulp. Located inside the tooth, the pulp can be damaged by a number of circumstances, including tooth decay, multiple dental procedures on a tooth, a chip or crack in the tooth, or face trauma. Individuals experiencing severe tooth pain should take note of the following symptoms that indicate a root canal procedure may be necessary.1. Radiating pain that affects the temple, jaw region, and ears.2. Swelling of the gums.3. Tooth sensitivity to cold liquids that last beyond the stimulus.4. Damaged teeth, such as a crack or broken tooth that causes a toothache.5. Discoloration of a tooth, also known as a “dead” tooth, which leaves it darker than the others.6. Tenderness and achiness when touching the tooth or biting. The root canal procedure, which involves removing the interior pulp and nerve and sealing the tooth, can effectively repair and save the damaged tooth.

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About the Apicoectomy Procedure

A member of the American Association of Endodontists, Dr. Jamie Ring owns and practices at Foothills Endodontic Specialists in Westminster, Colorado. There, Dr. Jamie Ring performs root canal treatments and re-treatments for patients who have infected tooth pulp. If these treatments are ineffective, however, a procedure called an apicoectomy is needed. A root canal treatment involves removing infected soft tissues from inside a tooth. These tissues, which include nerves and blood vessels, enter the tooth through tooth roots in the jawbone. Front teeth typically have one root, while molars have two or more. During a root canal procedure, the endodontist cleans out the pulp chamber and root canals, which are often complex and contain tiny branches that are sometimes difficult to reach. If the smallest amount of debris is left behind at the root tip, also called the apex, an apicoectomy will be necessary to halt the infection for good. This surgical procedure involves creating an opening in the gum tissues to access the tooth roots and underlying bone. The root apex and surrounding infected tissues are removed, and the endodontist uses microscopic instruments to ensure that the root canals are properly sealed and treated before suturing the gum tissues back in place.                                 

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Common Symptoms of Tooth Decay

Dr. Jamie Ring is a root canal specialist who has owned Foothills Endodontic Specialists, LLC, for the last six years. Dr. Jamie Ring studied at Temple University School of Dental Medicine after earning a degree in chemistry from the University of Colorado. While a root canal may be suggested by an endodontist or family dentist after tooth decay is detected during a routine checkup, you might be advised to schedule an immediate appointment if they notice one of several symptoms of nerve damage. The sensation of pain or discomfort in and around a tooth is an obvious sign that something is wrong. Any swelling that accompanies pain may indicate that the nerves have died, in which case a root canal will be required to alleviate the issue. Other signs of nerve decay are visual in nature. An x-ray is especially helpful in providing visual clues of nerve damage, as tooth decay appears as an obvious dark spot at the root of the tooth. At other times, some people will not notice nerve damage in their teeth at all, making annual visits to the dentist critical to ongoing dental health.

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Dentistry’s Ancient Roots

The record for dentistry goes back to ancient Egypt. History’s first dentist to be identified by name was an Egyptian called Hesi-Re, who practiced around 3000 BCE. Egyptian dental strategies involved securing replacement teeth with gold wire in a practice reminiscent of the modern dental bridge.  When a person applies toothpaste to his or her teeth, he or she participates in a tradition going back to the ancient Mediterranean. Roman toothpaste circa 500 BCE included bones and oil mixed with egg and oyster shells. Starting in the latter part of the 6th century, people in the Middle East began using the siwak, a simple toothbrush, to practice oral hygiene. The first fully modern toothbrush, fashioned from boar’s hair and bamboo, appeared in China at the very end of the 15th century. Learn more about the history of dentistry on the National Museum of Dentistry’s website at www.dentalmuseum.org. About the Author  Dr. Jamie Ring, a specialist in root canals, provides dental care at Foothills Endodontic Specialists, Prof. LLC, a private practice in Westminster, Colorado.