Questions we hear every day.

No. Most of our patients are referred by their general dentist, but you are welcome to call us directly — especially if you are in pain. We will still send a full report to your dentist afterwards so your care stays coordinated.

We hold emergency time open every weekday morning. If you telephone with severe pain or swelling we will nearly always see you the same day. Routine consultations are usually available within a few days.

Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. We are closed at weekends, which is why we would much rather hear from you on a Friday morning than have you wait until Monday.

Your insurance card, a list of your current medications, and any recent x-rays if you have them — though your dentist can also send them to us electronically. Eat normally beforehand and keep taking your regular medication unless we have told you otherwise.

Of course. Many patients find it easier with a family member present, and if you are having sedation you will need someone to drive you home.

For almost every patient the procedure itself feels no different to having a filling placed. The pain you arrive with is caused by the inflamed nerve — removing it is what brings relief. We use profound local anaesthesia and check that you are completely numb before we begin.

The majority of root canals are completed in a single appointment of sixty to ninety minutes. Re-treatment, teeth with a great deal of infection, and some microsurgery cases occasionally need a second visit. You will always be told the plan before anything starts.

Yes. For anxious patients we can arrange oral sedation in addition to local anaesthetic. Tell us when you book so we can plan the appointment properly and so you can arrange a driver.

An endodontist completes two to three additional years of training after dental school and treats nothing but the inside of teeth. Every case is done under an operating microscope, with 3D imaging available on site. For straightforward front teeth your dentist may well treat it themselves — for molars, re-treatment and difficult anatomy, the specialist equipment matters.

Digital radiographs use a very small dose, and our small-field cone beam scans are a fraction of a medical CT. We only take a scan when it will change what we do. Tell us if you are pregnant and we will adjust accordingly.

Usually yes — an untreated dental infection carries more risk than the treatment does. We take extra shielding precautions, keep imaging to the minimum, and will liaise with your obstetrician if there is any doubt.

The tooth is often tender to bite on for a few days while the ligament around the root settles. Over-the-counter ibuprofen or paracetamol is normally enough. Most people go back to work the same day or the next morning.

Usually not. Antibiotics do not reach the inside of an infected root canal — cleaning the canal is what resolves the infection. We prescribe them only where infection has spread into the surrounding tissues, or where your medical history requires cover.

For back teeth, almost always. A treated molar is more brittle and a crown protects it from fracture. Please see your own dentist promptly — delaying the permanent restoration is one of the most common reasons a successful root canal later fails.

A properly treated and properly restored tooth can last a lifetime. Success rates for first-time root canal treatment are above ninety-five per cent. We review healing radiographically at six months and again at a year, at no additional charge.

Call us. Persistent discomfort is uncommon but it always has a reason — a high bite, a missed canal, a crack, or occasionally a problem in a neighbouring tooth. We would much rather you rang than waited and worried.

We accept Delta Dental, Cigna, Aetna and most other major PPO plans, and we work directly with your insurance company to try to secure the maximum benefits available to you. Your coverage is verified before treatment begins.

Yes. After the examination you receive a written treatment plan with the estimated insurance portion and your estimated share, before you commit to anything.

Yes — we offer CareCredit, which allows monthly instalments including interest-free options on qualifying balances. Applying takes a few minutes and you will know the decision immediately.

In the great majority of cases, yes — and considerably faster. Extraction followed by an implant and crown typically costs more and takes several months, and once the tooth is out the decision cannot be reversed.