Frequently Asked Questions

Missing teeth can cause other teeth to shift, affect your chewing function and your smile. Also, endodontic treatment is less invasive than tooth extraction and a tooth replacement is more expensive and requires more appointments.  See Tooth Saving Tips for more detailed information on saving your teeth.

 A root canal treatment is a dental procedure to remove inflamed or infected pulp on the inside of the tooth by careful cleaning and disinfection.  Once cleaned, the inside of the tooth is then filled and sealed. Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save the natural tooth.  See Here for more information and a video on a root canal treatment.

Since local anesthetic is used, the tooth is completely numb and you should not experience discomfort during the procedure. Patients often say that a root canal feels similar to when they get a filling. 

Most treatments can be completed in 1 appointment. Some teeth require additional medication to heal and may need additional appointments. The length of an endodontic treatment can vary depending on the complexity of the case. In general, most treatment appointments last 1-1.5 hours once treatment is started. 

The only time someone else is required to come to the appointment is when a driver is needed for patients being sedated for treatment. Otherwise, the procedure is similar to having a filling completed in that only local anesthetic is used. People often have root canal treatment and go back to work the same day (the numbness should wear off in 2-4 hours). 

Your cost will be determined by the procedure and tooth, as well as any dental insurance coverage. In general, endodontic treatment is much less expensive than tooth removal and replacement with an artificial tooth or bridge.   

For a financial estimate, our doctors will need to diagnose the tooth to know what procedure needs to be performed, and our team will need your insurance information to estimate coverage and your out of pocket expense.    

YES - here is a video about the safety of root canal treatments. 

While a referral is not necessary to schedule an appointment with Hamilton County Endodontics, we do recommend that you speak with your dentist first.

Click here to read more about other misconceptions of root canal treatment.