WILL THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC EVER END?

It has now been about a year since the Covid-19 virus entered our lives and we all wonder if we will ever be able to resume our normal habits and routines.  Personally, I am optimistic someday we will be past this terrible time.  In the meantime, our commitment to your safety is unwavering.  Infection control has always been a top priority for us at Southern New Hampshire Endodontics.  Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, so our protocols  remain current.  When you are referred to us, please understand it is important to electronically fill out your record from home and be prepared that we will ask you pre-screening questions regarding possible Covid-19 symptoms and contacts, and when you arrive we will take your temperature, have you wash your hands thoroughly and place on a mask and gloves.  We no longer have magazines or extra chairs in the reception area, as these items are difficult to clean and disinfect.  I have worked hard to be sure we have all the recommended and necessary PPE for your care.  We will do the best we can to manage appointments to allow for social distancing between patients - we will ask for your patience and understanding for us to accomplish this.  There are many more procedures, some of which you may observe and others that are done behind the scenes, all instituted to provide a safe environnment for your care.  We look forward to seeing you and please call us if you have any questions.  We recently had a patient criticize us because our Covid-19 protocols are too strict;  well, that is just the sort of positive reinforcement we are looking for!  --- Dr. Michael Marshall

Endodontic specialist, Dr. Michael Marshall and his experienced team of assistants and office personnel have the goal of providing their patients with an exceptional experience.  When performed carefully endodontics can be accomplished in a very pleasant, comfortable manner and is an effective means of saving a tooth and maintaining the integrity of your natural dentition.    

Dr. Marshall is a specialist member of the American Association of Endodontists and has been consistently selected by his peers as one of the top endodontists in New Hampshire.  In fact, he has been bestowed this honor again this year (see the Bulletin Board posting below).  His mission is to provide unsurpassed quality in an environment of professionalism, caring and clinical excellence.  Please enjoy our website and learn more about endodontics and how we can help you.  Please click on this:  “Testimonials” to see what other patients have to say about their experience with us.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Marshall’s peers once again selected him as one of the top endodontists for 2020 - 2021.  The top vote getter distinction was awarded to Dr. Marshall in 2019 - 2020 and 2016 - 2017.  As explained by “New Hampshire Magazine” (in the August issue), because this honor “is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which dentists and specialists throughout New Hampshire cast votes on the ability of other dentists and specialists, inclusion in ‘topDentists’ is considered a singular honor”.  

Did you know that endodontic infections that occur in the maxillary posterior teeth can easily spread into the adjacent sinus and can lead to sinus issues?  Most certainly proper diagnosis of the source of the problem is essential to the solution and CBCT imaging has been shown to significantly improve the ability to detect odontogenic sources for sinusitis.  Conventional, peri-apical radiographs are hindered by anatomical structures  and do not consistently reveal mucosal thickening or fluid in the sinus and fail to diagnose the odontogenic source in 86% of cases.  CBCT is recognized to be helpful in demonstrating the expansion of odontogenic lesions into the sinus, the presence of a mucositis and an analysis of the problem tooth. 

Our office has CBCT technology!  The amount of information that can be attained from 3-D imaging is absolutely astounding!  It allows for more enhanced viewing of not only teeth, but the surrounding structures.  The benefits are tremendous since it allows for more accurate diagnosis, an understanding of what might be the best treatment (without having to actually enter the tooth) and increases the chances of providing successful endodontics when complexities are present and can be observed and understood before the treatment is even started.  Carestream is the largest provider of this technology in the world and the CS 8100 3D is their latest model.  At a recent American Association of Endodontists annual meeting a lecturer reported only about 23% of the endodontic offices in the country have a cone beam machine and we are one of them.  It is just another way of providing patients with the best care possible.  Please open this link to learn more about this exciting technology, supportive research and explanation of cost:  3D images with our CBCT

The annual AAE meeting is a wonderful education forum, where there are literally hundreds of lectures, demonstrations and presentations by some of the worlds most renowned educators and research scientists on many topics, as well as displays of the most recent equipment and innovations.  Whereas the local courses are typically  designed for general dentists, this event is specific for the specialty of endodontics and specialists from all over the world usually attend.  This meeting allows endodontists the opportunity to stay on the cutting edge of new information in order to better care for their patients.  This year, the meeting was to be held in Nashville from April 1st to the 4th and Dr. Marshall was scheduled to attend.  However, due to recent events related to the Coronavirus, he decided not to go and then the AAE cancelled the event, anyway.  The AAE instead presented an on-line meeting, which was very good!

Dr. Marshall and his daughter, Bailey, planned to continue their running tradition by participating in the Maine Coast Half and Full Marathon.  It's a beautiful course through Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Biddeford.  Bailey ran in the Cape Cod Marathon in Falmouth, this past fall.  It was cold, raining and windy, with waves crashing onto the roads and runners, along the shore; but Bailey persevered and posted a great time!  They had trained and were ready for the event, but then the marathon was cancelled because of the pandemic- better safe than sorry!  However, Dr. Marshall and Bailey continue training and await the next opportunity. 

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