The thought of aroot canalmay make you fearful or uneasy if you arent familiar with the procedure. There are common misconceptions that endodontic treatments such as root canals, cause pain and/or illness and should be avoided at all costs. The exact opposite is true. The pain, inconvenience and cost of avoiding endodontic treatment in favor of tooth extraction or a wait-and-see approach can be easily avoided. The longer you postpone treatment the more you risk the chance to save your tooth. Take the time to read the information on our website to find out what endodontists do to save teeth with minimal time and discomfort. Then address any remaining concerns or questions with your dentist or endodontist.

Decades ago that may have been the case, but with modern technology and anesthetics you wont experience any more pain than if you went to have a cavity filled. The pain from a severe toothache, often caused by damaged tissues in the tooth, can be easily remedied when an endodontist removes the damaged tissue through root canal treatment. In addition, endodontists are experts inpain management, and most cases can be treated quickly and comfortably.

Information you may find on the Internet or elsewhere, claiming that if you receive a root canal treatment youre more likely to become ill or contract a disease in the future simply isnt true. This false claim was based on long-debunked and poorly designed research conducted nearly a century ago, long before modern medicine understood the causes of many diseases. There is no valid, scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to disease elsewhere in the body.

Saving your natural teeth, if possible, is always the best option. Nothing artificial can replace the look or function of a natural tooth so its important to always consider root canal treatment as an option. Endodontic treatment has a high success rate and many root canal-treated teeth last a lifetime. Replacing an extracted tooth with a bridge or implant requires more time in treatment and may result in further procedures to neighboring teeth and supporting tissue.

Dr. Joyce Johnston-Neeser was recognized as a Boston Magazine 2019 and 2020 Top Dentist in her field of Endodontics. She completed her Bachelors of Science degree at Northeastern University. She went on to earn her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 1998 where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She was selected into the prestigious National Dental Honor Society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon, where admission and membership is based upon scholarship and character as manifested by election by the faculty. While at Tufts undergraduate she received the award for Oral Pathology and the award for Endodontics.

Following dental school she completed her specialty training and postdoctoral certificate in Endodontics at Boston University School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Johnston practiced in Sudbury for the past 16 years and recently opened her new practice in Hudson, MA and looks forward to providing compassionate, innovative, and personalized care to her patients.

In her time away from the office Dr. Johnston enjoys spending time with her two children Alexandra and Andrew when they are home from college. She loves to travel and experience different cultures. She also enjoys bike riding, cooking, volunteering at various organizations and long walks with her dog Luna.

Dr. Johnston is an active member of the American Dental Association, the American Association for Endodontics, the Massachusetts Association of Endodontics, Multi-Disciplinary Dental Study Club and the Massachusetts Dental Society.