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Here you will find the answers to common questions that we are often asked. If you have any questions that are not listed here please feel free to give our office a call or visit the American Association of Endodontists website.
Questions prior to your appointment
What is an Endodontist?
Do I need to bring anything with me?
Should I take pain medication before coming in?
What about my other medications?
What occurs during the first appointment?
Will I be able to drive home after the procedure?
Why do you need to take x-rays if I brought my doctor?
Questions about endodontic treatment
Is root canal treatment painful?
What is endodontic treatment?
How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?
Why can't I use antibiotics to make the abscess go away?
What about infection control?
Why do I need to have endodontic retreatment?
Can all teeth be treated endodontically?
Following your Root Canal Procedure
What should I expect following endodontic treatment?
Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment after endodontic treatment?
Do I need antibiotics?
Will the tooth last forever after treatment?
Retreatment and Surgical Procedures
I was told I would need my root canal retreated. What is that?
I was told I would need root canal surgery, what is that?
Do you do root canals on baby teeth?
Payment and Insurance Questions
What are your payment options?
What is a UCR and how is it determined?
Why is my benefit different from what I expected?
Why isn't the recommended treatment a covered benefit?
How much will the procedure cost?
How do I know what my payment portion will be if my insurance does not cover the entire fee?
What is an EOB?
How long does it take for a claim to be paid?
How do I know if you take my insurance?
What is an Endodontist?
If you are reading this page, it probably means that your General Dentist has referred you to see an Endodontist for consultation and/or treatment on one or more of your teeth. You may be thinking,
"what is an Endodontist and why am I being referred".
An Endodontist is a dental specialist who deals with infections that occur inside the tooth. You might be experiencing pain to hot or cold temperatures, biting, swelling, gum sensitivity, abscess, discoloration of the tooth, or you may have no symptoms at all. You might be experiencing these symptoms because of deep decay, trauma, chipping, cracking, or repeated dental procedures. In some cases, the inside of a tooth (called the pulp) dies, or becomes necrotic, for no apparent reason.
There are several ways in which Endodontists save teeth that have infections or necrosis, but most common procedure is called a root canal treatment. More than 14 million teeth receive some form of root canal treatment each year you're not alone. Moreover, you're in good hands. All Endodontist complete two years of post doctorate education to become a specialist. That's approximately 10 years of college.
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Do I need to bring anything with me?
Most patients who come to our office are referred by their general dentists. Usually when your general dentist refers you to our clinic they give you a referral slip. Make sure you bring this with you in addition to any radiographs your doctor gave you. You will also need to bring your dental insurance card if you have one, some form of picture identification, and some form of payment. We accept cash, checks, credit cards, and we offer payment plans through Care Credit.
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Should I take pain medication before coming in?
If you can, our office does not recommend taking any pain medications for several hours before your appointment. This is because these medications can mask the symptoms we are trying to diagnose. If you have already taken some pain medication please let our office know at the time of your appointment.
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What about my other medications?
You should take all your normal daily medications at your normal time. If you take many medications, please bring a list of them with you to the office. Diabetics should make sure they have had some caloric intake prior to their appointment.
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What occurs during the first appointment?
First the dental assistant takes radiographs of the affected area, as directed by the doctor. Then the doctor reviews your medical history and any symptoms you may be having. The tooth is then tested for pain to bite, palpation, percussion, cold, and heat. These tests are performed to determine which tooth is in need of treatment, if you need root canal treatment, which endodontic treatment may be necessary, and if the tooth is cracked. After the exam, the doctor reviews the treatment options available to you, risks and benefits of those options, and any questions you may have.
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Will I be able to drive home after the procedure?
Yes, our office uses local anesthetic and nitrous oxide, and unless we prescribe anti-anxiety medications to take during the appointment or you have taken narcotic pain medications, you should be able to drive yourself to and from the appointment.
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Why do you need to take x-rays if I brought my doctor's?
While your doctor's x-rays are helpful we still need to take our own radiographic images both for our records and to improve our ability to diagnose your condition.
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Questions about endodontic treatment
Is root canal treatment painful?
Root canal procedures are performed to relieve pain caused by pulp inflammation or infection. Endodontists are trained in modern techniques and anesthetics so you shouldn't feel any discomfort during your procedure.
After your procedure your tooth may feel sensitive for a few days, especially if you had pain or swelling before your procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medication.
Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. This is a normal part of the healing process. However, if you have severe pain, pressure, swelling, or pain that lasts more than a few days, please call our office even if it is the weekend.
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What is endodontic treatment?
Endodontic treatment treats the inside of the tooth.
"Endo" is the Greek word for "inside" and "odont" is Greek for "tooth".
Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess, and eventual failure of the tooth. However, if treated the tooth can remain healthy and function as any other tooth in your mouth.
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How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?
The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal, a channel inside the root, then fills and seals the space with an inert rubber like material called gutta percha. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.
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Why can't I use antibiotics to make the abscess go away?
Unfortunately, when a tooth is infected, the blood supply (pulp) running through the tooth is affected as well. As a result, there is no way for the body to get the antibiotic inside the tooth. They do however, assist in controlling and eliminating infection in the surrounding bone before and after root canal therapy.
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What about infection control?
Reducing the chance of spreading infectious diseases has always been the "highest priority" of the dental profession. Our office uses comprehensive infection control procedures which comply with, and exceed the "universal precautions" set and regulated by government and professional agencies.
We routinely monitor our infection control policies and ensure that an upgrade to material and equipment, as well as training in their use, is an ongoing process.
Many of our control procedures are visible; gloved hands, protective masks and eyewear and freshly laundered uniforms.
What may not be visible to our patients is the sophisticated state-of-the-art sterilization of all instruments, including handpieces, disinfection of all surfaces, and disposal of contaminated waste into special containers which are then discarded according to government regulations.
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Why do I need to have endodontic retreatment?
New trauma, deep decay, or a loose, cracked or broken filling can cause new infection in your tooth. In some cases, the endodontist may discover additional very narrow or curved canals that could not be treated during the initial procedure.
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Can all teeth be treated endodontically?
Most teeth can be treated. Occasionally, a tooth can't be saved because the root canals are not accessible, the root is severely fractured, the tooth doesn't have adequate bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored. However, advances in endodontics are making it possible to save teeth that even a few years ago would have been lost. When endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth.
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Following your Root Canal Procedure
What should I expect following endodontic treatment?
The root canal system inside your tooth has been thoroughly cleaned, and the irritated tissue and bacteria that have caused you to need root canal treatment are gone.
It is normal to feel some tenderness in the area over the next few days as your body undergoes the natural healing process. You may also feel some tenderness in your jaw from keeping it open for an extended period of time. These symptoms are temporary and usually respond very well to over-the-counter pain medications. It is important for you to follow the instructions on how to take these medications. Remember that narcotic medications, if prescribed, may make you drowsy, and caution should be exercised in operating dangerous machinery or driving a car after taking them.
Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your root canal treatment has been completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure that lasts more than a few days, please contact our office.
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Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment after endodontic treatment?
Try to not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have had it restored by your dentist. The unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture, so you should see your dentist for a full restoration as soon as possible. Otherwise, you need only practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings.
Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or the pain continues. Occasionally, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. Often when this occurs, redoing the endodontic procedure can save the tooth.
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Do I need antibiotics?
In most cases, antibiotics are not required after endodontic therapy. You will be given a prescription for antibiotics if we feel it is necessary. Your dentist may have placed you on an antibiotic prior to your appointment. We will let you know if you should continue this. Some medical conditions, such hip joint replacements, require special doses of antibiotics an hour before treatment to reduce the risk of infection of the joint. If you have been told by your physician to pre-medicate with an antibiotic for dental treatment, make sure to fill your antibiotic prescription before your appointment date and take the antibiotic as it is prescribed. This special pre-medication dose is still needed even if you have been taking a daily regime of antibiotics for several days already. If you have any questions about this, please call our office.
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Will the tooth last forever after treatment?
Root canal therapy has been reported to be up to 95% successful. Many factors influence the treatment outcome: the patient's general health, bone support around the tooth, strength of the tooth including possible fracture lines, shape and condition of the root and nerve canal(s) and continued follow-up care with your general dentist. Although we cannot guarantee the successful outcome of root canal procedures, you can be assured that the most advanced techniques and treatment modalities will be performed to ensure the best prognosis possible.
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Retreatment and Surgical Procedures
I was told I would need my root canal retreated. What is that?
The canals of some roots are more complicated than others. Sometimes the infection of the canal is not eliminated following root canal therapy. This may not be known immediately after treatment is done, and in some cases several years after treatment. In other cases, a treated root canal can become contaminated if it is not properly restored afterwards, or if decay develops around the edges of the crown. In these cases, we remove the rubber canal filling, and then proceed to clean and disinfect the canals again. Since these procedures are more complicated and time consuming, they are often done in two visits.
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I was told I would need root canal surgery. What is that?
Most root canals are treated non-surgically. In some cases, there may be some reason why non-surgical treatment or retreatment cannot be performed. In these cases, we can still save some of these teeth by surgically operating on the ends of the roots (apicoectomy). This is done in our office with local anesthetics. We will usually want to provide a consultation appointment prior to scheduling a surgical treatment appointment. Other surgical procedures that we do include: repairing damage to root surfaces, and removing cracked roots from multi-rooted teeth.
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Do you do root canal on baby teeth?
Baby teeth can become infected. Usually they are extracted, but sometimes the retention of the baby tooth is critical for maintaining the proper space in the arch for the adult tooth. Occasionally root canals are done on these teeth so that they do not need to be extracted before the adult tooth is ready to erupt.
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Payment and Insurance Questions
What are your payment options?
We offer options for both insured and non-insured patients.
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What is a UCR and how is it determined?
UCR is the term used by insurance companies to describe the amount they are willing to pay for a particular endodontic procedure. There is no standard fee or accepted method for determining the UCR and the UCR has no relationship to the fee charged by us. The administrator of each dental benefit plan determines the fees that the plan will pay, often based on many factors including region of the country, number of procedures performed and cost of living.
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Why is my benefit different from what I expected?
Your dental benefit may vary for a number of reasons, such as:
You have already used some of the benefits available from your dental insurance.
Your insurance plan paid only a percentage of the fee charged by your Endodontist.
The treatment you needed was not a covered benefit.
You have not met your deductible.
You have not reached the end of your plan's waiting period and are currently ineligible for coverage.
Your plan may want you to choose your dental care from a list of their preferred providers.
Specific plan limitations, like the re-treatment of an existing root canal.
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Why isn't the recommended treatment a covered benefit?
We diagnose and provide treatment based on your condition and our professional judgment, not on what your insurance provider has chosen to cover. Some employers or insurance plans exclude coverage for common treatments as a way to reduce their costs. Your plan may not include coverage for the procedure that we recommend.
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How much will the procedure cost?
The cost varies depending on how severe the problem is and which tooth is affected. Molars are more difficult to treat and usually cost more. Most dental insurance policies provide coverage for endodontic treatment. Generally, endodontic treatment and restoration of the natural tooth are less expensive than the alternative of having the tooth extracted. An extracted tooth must be replaced with a bridge or implant to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These procedures tend to cost more than endodontic treatment and appropriate restoration
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How do I know what my payment portion will be if my insurance does not cover the entire fee?
Your payment portion will vary according to the UCR of your plan, your maximum allowable benefit, and other factors. Although we will call your carrier to check on your coverage, the information that they provide to us over the phone is not a guarantee that they will in fact cover that portion of the fees. Ultimately, your precise portion of the fee is not known until we have received payment from your insurance. You are responsible for any portion of the fees not paid by your insurance unless we have a pre-arranged contract to accept fixed co-pay from you.
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What is an EOB?
Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) is a wealth of information. Your insurance company sends the EOB to you whenever a claim is made. It identifies the amount your insurance carrier is willing to pay and charges that are and are not covered by your plan. It should also clearly state the portion of the fees that you are responsible for paying. The statement includes the following information: UCR, copayment amount/patient portion, remaining benefits, deductible and benefit paid.
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How long does it take for a claim to be paid?
The time for a dental insurance carrier to process an insurance claim varies. At least 38 states have enacted laws requiring dental insurance carriers to pay claims within a timely period (ranging generally from 15 to 60 days). If you want to file a complaint about a delayed payment, contact the insurance commissioner in your state. They want to know if your insurance company does not pay within the period allowed by your state law.
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How do I know if you take my insurance?
The best way to know is to call your insurance company prior to your appointment. We do have a list of some insurance companies that we are in network with. However, there are many sub groups to those insurance companies where it is impossible to know if we are in network with them without giving them a call.
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