General FAQs
We will take every measure to ensure that anesthesia to gently numb a concentrated area of your mouth. For most patients, the feeling of numbness usually subsides after a few hours.
Yes, for most root canal treatments, we recommend that patients return to the office one year after the procedure was finished. Our office will send a reminder notice to you when you are due for your follow-up appointment. In the meantime, it is of the utmost importance that you see your general dentist to have the tooth permanently restored 2-3 weeks after treatment is completed in our office
No. While radiographs (x-ray images) will be necessary during your endodontic treatment, we use an advanced non-film computerized system, called digital radiography, that produces radiation levels up to 90 percent lower than those of already low dose conventional dental x-ray machinery. These digital images can be optimized, archived, printed, and sent to your restorative dentist via secure e-mail or portal that is HIPAA compliance.
Please ensure to take medications as prescribed by your doctor including antibiotics, but do not take any pain relievers six hours prior to your appointment (this may interfere with our diagnostic tests). Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages 12 hours before your procedure.
Yes, we are accepting new patients with a referral form from your general dentist. Please contact our office for an appointment.
Yes, it is recommended to pre-register online in order to help you save time at the office. Please call our office so we can create your personal username and password.
We recommend you start chewing on your treated tooth only when you’ve had the crown properly placed or repaired by your dentist. Please make an appointment to have this done soon after your root canal treatment. Waiting too long to have crown repair may result in contamination of the tooth, resulting in the need for continued treatment that may range from retreating the infected tooth.
In severe cases, the tooth may fracture or become so infected that it may require an extraction.
Yes. Many of the children we see have had traumatic injuries from a fall or sport injury. There are specific protocols that must be followed to ensure optimal treatment results with traumatized teeth and endodontists have special training in these protocols.
We accept and are contracted with most PPO insurance plans. Please do not hesitate to call our office if you have any questions.
For your convenience, we accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. We also accept personal checks verified by TeleCheck, and offer CareCredit© as a payment option
Our office accepts CareCredit©. You can learn more about CareCredit© at www.carecredit.com or by calling them toll free at (800) 365.8295. We do not offer any in-office financing or payment plans.
Endodontic FAQs
Again, there’s no need for concern. We adhere to the most rigorous standards of infection control advocated by OSHA, the Centers for Disease Control and the American Dental Association. We utilize autoclave sterilization and barrier techniques to eliminate any risk of infection.
You should 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 (retreatment) can save the tooth.
Yes. This is a very frequently asked question. For the procedure, you will be given local anesthetic, similar to what you would experience with any other type of dental procedure, such as a crown or filling. We do have nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, available for your comfort, for an additional fee. If this is an option you are interested in, please feel free to let us know when you make your appointment.
Most patients will experience mild soreness, particularly to biting or chewing, for a few days. Everyone's rate of healing is different; some patients have discomfort for one day, some for a week. However, if you experience anything beyond mild discomfort, or if you develop any facial swelling, please call the office.
We recommend that you take an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) following your procedure. If you cannot take ibuprofen, then acetaminophen (Tylenol) would be the next best thing. In certain instances, Dr. Tran will prescribe you an antibiotic, and/or possibly a stronger pain medication for pain. All instructions regarding medication will be thoroughly reviewed with you before you leave, and you will also be given written instructions.
Yes! In fact many of our patients ask for the first appointment in the morning, or even come on their lunch break. The area of your mouth that is worked on will be numb for a few hours following your procedure, but it should not interfere at all with your day-to-day activities.
You can and should eat, but slowly and with caution, chewing on the opposite side of the treated tooth. Your mouth will be partially numb, so care should be taken to not bite your cheek, tongue or lip. Most patients are comfortable eating something soft. It is a good idea to have food in your stomach before taking medication, so if you are not planning on eating afterwards, be sure and have breakfast or lunch beforehand.
Yes, if you don’t elect oral conscious sedation. You will not be sedated for your appointment. Local anesthetic will be administered, similar to how you would feel for a typical dental visit such as a crown or filling.
If you elect for oral conscious sedation, you may not drive and will need to have a companion to drive you to and from the appointment and stay with you until the sedative(s) wear off.
We recommend that you call your restorative dentist as soon as possible to make your follow-up appointment. Dentists' schedules tend to book quickly. It is recommended that you have your permanent restoration placed 2-3 weeks after your root canal treatment to allow healing to take place, but not longer than one month after the procedure. This step is imperative for the long-term prognosis of your tooth.
The temporary filling placed in the biting surface of your tooth is designed to last ideally two to four weeks, not longer than six to eight weeks. It is crucial to see your general dentist for a permanent restoration. Waiting longer than eight weeks can cause your temporary filling to leak, thus contaminating your newly completed root canal therapy.
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.
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 non-surgical endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth (see Apicoectonomy Surgical Retreatment).
Often, the only alternative to endodontic surgery 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, endodontic surgery is usually the most biologic and cost-effective option for maintaining your oral health.
No matter how effective modern artificial 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 the rest of your life.
Common Myths About Root Canals
The thought of a root canal may make you fearful or uneasy if you aren’t 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 won’t 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 in pain 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 you’re more likely to become ill or contract a disease in the future simply isn’t 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 it’s 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.