"You need a root canal" is an unwelcome statement that usually evokes, if not fear exactly, at least high anxiety. It always has for me: what with all that excavation and rasping and filing. Newsflash! Dr. Priya O'Callaghan has completely eliminated that, to the point where I will almost surely look forward to any future root canal work (I never thought I would ever say that). Why?
Dr. O'C is streets ahead of any endodontist that I've ever experienced. Those were all males (of course) and they very good endos but, Dr. O'C makes them look very old school by taking endodontistry to the next level.
For example, I discovered that her Hayward office has all mod cons. Top of the line equipment, including:
(1) a hand-held, low-power, X-ray unit for taking multi-angle images to guarantee accuracy of the work she is doing in real time and
(2) an ultrasonic root-cavity cleaning system that atomizes
and removes all remnant nerve tissue that could potentially cause later infection. No more rasping with 19th century C-files.
In fact, the ultrasonic process was so relaxing it almost put me to sleep. Dozing off ... through a ROOT CANAL!? Unbelievable.
It's the first I've seen of these new technologies and they make the entire root canal procedure much more comfortable and totally painless.
Very importantly IMHO, Dr. O'C thinks like an engineer which, for me (as a scientist), is very impressive. She's the only dentist (let alone ANY kind of doctor) that ever drew a diagram to explain what had happened to my tooth and what my treatment options were.
I'm a visual kinda guy so, the diagram made me feel very confident that she really knew what she was doing.
After the procedure, she reviewed some of my X-rays to further explain what things had been done differently than originally planned. My particular situation (removing a gold crown and metal platform) was unexpectedly difficult but Dr. O'C
navigated her way through it with the real skill.
The staff are very friendly, good humored, and knowledgable.
Dr. O'C also has a great "bedside manner" and sense of humor but, she's all business when it comes to the actual endodontics; and that's what you want.
Yelp's 5 stars is hardly a sufficient indicator of my endorsement. No dentist is perfect but, when you find someone this good, you immediately want to tell your friends and everyone. And that's exactly what I'll be doing; starting here.
Thank you again Dr. O'C and staff. read more