Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does an endodontist do?
Beyond the standard 4 years of dental school, an endodontist completes 2 or more additional years of specialty training devoted to root canals. That extra, focused education is exactly what qualifies an endodontist to handle every aspect of root canal therapy.
2. Are root canals painful?
The reputation root canals have for being painful traces back decades, to a time when the procedure was far more primitive, a point the American Association of Endodontists is quick to make. Modern anesthetics and updated technology have changed that, and most patients today describe the experience as pain-free with only minimal discomfort. Drs. Brammeier and Ericson walk every patient through the procedure beforehand, which goes a long way toward easing anxiety.
3. How many dental visits does a root canal require?
Thanks to today's cutting edge technology, one or two office visits is all that most root canal procedures take. Keep in mind, though, that how long the procedure runs and how many appointments are needed will depend on factors specific to each patient.
4. Can antibiotics cure a root canal infection?
Clearing a root canal infection means manually removing it from the canal of the tooth, and there is no shortcut around that. Antibiotics do have a role: they can quiet symptoms such as biting pain before the root canal and may even help head off discomfort after treatment. What they cannot do is cure the infection. Because its source sits inside the tooth where there is no blood supply, nothing exists to deliver the antibiotics to where the infection actually is.
5. Do root canals cause illness?
No evidence links root canals to any type of illness. The research actually points the other way: people who have had root canals are no more at risk of developing illness than people who have never had one.
6. My tooth doesn't hurt, so why do I need a root canal?
A pain-free tooth can still need root treatment, and that happens more often than people expect. Dentists and endodontists are trained to test the tooth and determine whether the pulp has become infected or damaged. Once the pulp is infected or damaged, a root canal is what saves the tooth.
7. Will you accept my insurance?
For many patients, insurance covers all or most of the treatment. Have your information ready when you call to book your appointment, and we can give you a clearer picture of what your plan covers.
8. What will treatment cost?
Several factors shape the cost of endodontic therapy, with the severity of the damage to the tooth being the biggest one. As a rule, saving an infected tooth is far more cost effective than letting the infection spread or pulling the tooth and replacing it with an artificial one.
9. Will I be able to drive myself home afterward?
Local anesthetic is used for most treatments, and it won't impair your ability to drive afterward. Oral sedation is the exception: if you choose it, you'll need a driver to bring you to and from your appointment on the day of the procedure.
10. Will I need to take any medications?
To keep you comfortable, we may prescribe antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, or pain medications. Since every patient is different, we adjust any prescriptions to suit your specific needs.
11. Is pulling my tooth a better choice than root canal treatment?
Hanging on to your natural tooth for as long as you can is essential for eating and chewing the way you should. Paired with the right restoration, endodontic treatment is a cost-effective way to care for a tooth in need, and it runs less expensive than extracting and replacing it.
Keep in mind, too, that endodontic treatment carries a very high success rate, and plenty of root canal treated teeth go on to last a lifetime! A bridge or a dental implant, by comparison, demands significantly more treatment time and can lead to further procedures on adjacent teeth and supporting tissues.
Around the world, millions of endodontically treated teeth are still healthy and serving patients decades after treatment! Those patients chew efficiently and keep the natural appearance of their smiles. Working side by side, endodontists and dentists worldwide help patients save their natural teeth for a lifetime!
Every so often, though, a tooth simply cannot be saved. Should that happen, Drs. Brammeier and Ericson are qualified to offer the option of removal and replacement with a dental implant.
12. Do I need to see my dentist after my root canal?
Booking a follow-up with Drs. Brammeier and Ericson after your root canal is very important. Once the root canal is complete and the pulp has been removed, your tooth becomes vulnerable to fracturing. A permanent restoration from your general dentist protects the tooth from both fracturing and contamination, which is why Drs. Brammeier and Ericson advise you to return to Drs. Brammeier and Ericson within 3 weeks after your root canal.
13. Should I worry about radiation exposure from the x-rays?
We take x-rays only when they are needed to deliver the best treatment possible. Our advanced x-ray system is digital, putting out radiation levels up to 90 percent lower than the already low dose of traditional dental x-rays. When indicated, these digital x-rays can be printed, optimized, and emailed to Drs. Brammeier and Ericson.
14. What comes after my root canal treatment?
Once your root canal therapy is finished, we send a record of your treatment to your restorative dentist. Plan to contact their office for an appointment within 3 weeks of your visit with us. Your restorative dentist then decides what type of restoration your tooth needs for protection. Complications are rare following routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery, but if a problem does arise, our team is available at all times to respond.