FAQ

What is an Endodontist?

An endodontist is a dentist who has received two years of advanced education and training in endodontic procedures and has limited their practice to performing only endodontic procedures. Dentists will regularly refer patients needing endodontic procedures to an endodontist because of their experience in dealing with both routine and difficult endodontic procedures. Endodontists are also experts in diagnosing the cause of oral and facial pain.

Why Do I Have to See a Specialist?

A general dentist may refer you to an endodontist because he/she feels you need a specialist's attention. Each case is different and there's a wide range of complexity. Sometimes, they might just want a second opinion. Why do I have to come for a consultation when my dentist told me I need a root canal?

Before providing any treatment, we want to be sure you need root canal therapy and that it is the best option for you. This can occasionally be difficult to determine. Sometimes, different options are available, and you need to choose which one you'd prefer. In some cases, a separate consultation visit may not be required.

Will I Feel Pain During or After the Procedure?

Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anesthetics that we use, most patients report that they are comfortable and pain free during the procedure. After treatment the tooth may be sensitive and you may experience slight discomfort. However, we will give you post-op instructions regarding your root canal and which medications will relieve this pain. If you experience severe pain or pain that lasts longer than a few days contact our office.

Will My Tooth Need Special Care Afterwards?

Following completion of the root canal therapy, and depending upon the status of the tooth being treated, a final restoration may be placed in our office. However, there are many teeth which are restored with a temporary restoration and patients are asked to visit their general dentist to have a permanent restoration placed. Full crown restorations are recommended for molar teeth and bicuspid teeth. Until this is done the unrestored tooth will be susceptible to fracture. Once the tooth has been restored you need only practice proper oral hygiene and the tooth should last as long as any natural tooth.

How Many Appointments Do I Need For My Root Canal?

The number of appointments required for root canal therapy depends upon the complexity of the cases being treated. Some root canal treatment is performed in one appointment while others require two or more appointments. In our office, we usually appoint patients for one to two hour sessions. If the tooth to be treated is badly infected, we usually treat these cases in more than one appointment to allow our medication to reduce the bacterial content with the root canal system. When we are assured the tooth has been cleaned properly, and when the patient is asymptomatic, the root canal fillings are placed.

How Successful is Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal treatment and re-treatment have a success rate in excess of 95%.

With the use of a high-powered operating microscope and other modern techniques, our treatments are very predictable. It should however be remembered that it is impossible to guarantee the success of any medical procedure.

Even with the best treatment, healing may not occur due to circumstances beyond the control of the dentist. Should this occur, further steps may be required to eradicate the infection.

Are There Alternatives to Endodontic Treatment?

For some patients considering retreatment, endodontic surgery is also an option. This surgery involves making an incision near the end of the root to allow the tip of the root to be sealed. Endodontic surgery may be recommended in conjunction with retreatment or as an alternative. Your endodontist will discuss your options and recommend appropriate treatment.

The only other alternative is extraction of the tooth. The extracted tooth must then be replaced with an implant, bridge, or removable partial denture to restore chewing function and to prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. Because these alternatives require surgery or dental procedures on adjacent healthy teeth, they can be far more costly and time consuming than retreatment and restoration of the natural tooth.

No matter how effective modern tooth replacements are - and they can be very effective - nothing is as good as a natural tooth. You've already made an investment in saving your tooth. The pay-off for choosing endodontic surgery could be a healthy, functioning natural tooth for many years to come.