Patients

We care about your comfort

Here at SJS Endodontics, your comfort is our #1 concern. From surgery to paperwork, we have got you covered for peace of mind.

What is an endodontist?

Endodontists specialize in saving natural teeth. While all endodontists are dentists, less than three percent of dentists are endodontists.

Learn more about Endodontists here, No one is better at saving teeth than an endodontist.

Endodontists complete two to three years of post-doctoral education after dental school focusing on diseases of the dental pulp and how to treat them.

Endodontists focus exclusively on diagnosing and treating tooth pain and saving infected teeth. Endodontists complete an average of 25 root canal treatments a week, while general dentists typically complete two.

Endodontists are experts in administering numbing medications, especially in patients who traditionally have problems getting and staying numb. Most patients are pleasantly surprised that their treatment was completed quickly and painlessly.

Endodontists use the latest materials and equipment designed to make your treatment more comfortable and successful. Digital x-rays, 3-D imaging, ultrasonics, operating microscopes and NiTi instruments (the same materials used by NASA) allow endodontists to better see, diagnose and treat root canals and any related infections.

Saving your natural tooth

Nothing looks, feels or functions like your natural teeth. Regular brushing, flossing and check-ups with your dentist can help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.

Sometimes, however, teeth may require additional care due to cracks, trauma, infections or other diseases. Modern endodontics offers advancements in technologies, procedures and materials that allows most teeth to be saved virtually pain-free.

We believe that you should consider saving your natural teeth whenever possible. Losing a natural tooth can negatively impact your quality of life. A lost tooth can affect your ability to chew properly, can cause other teeth to shift and can ruin your smile.

Saving your natural teeth is often more time & cost-effective and less painful than extraction and replacement. Replacing an extracted tooth with a bridge or dental implant requires multiple appointments and procedures that can add up quickly in time and money.

Dr. Schmoldt can evaluate your unique needs and provide the best treatment plan to help you save your natural teeth for a lifetime.

Signs you may need endodontic treatment

  • Pain in tooth or surrounding tissues

  • Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold

  • Tenderness to touch and chewing

  • Discoloration of the tooth

  • Tenderness of lymph nodes

  • Swelling of gum tissues or around the jaw

A typical visit

Never had a visit with an endodontist before? Have you had one but it’s been a while, or with a different doctor? Feel free to read through our typical first office visit proceedings!

A Typical Office Visit

Eliminating Anxiety

Dr. Schmoldt has seen thousands of patients and is aware that this appointment can be very stressful. We will do everything we can to help alleviate any anxiety. We will tailor our approach to you to help decrease your anxiety. We will work with you to make this appointment as comfortable as possible.

Dr. Schmoldt is an expert in providing dental anesthesia. Most patients are pleasantly surprised that they felt little to no pain and were completely comfortable throughout the procedure.

Although most patients do well with only local anesthetic, we do offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) that can help decrease anxiety. We can also discuss oral medications (Valium, halcion) that can be prescribed and taken before your appointment to help decrease any anxiety. Dr. Schmoldt can discuss this in more detail if you’d like at your consultation.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns or if we can help alleviate any anxiety before, during and after your procedure. We are always here to help!

Root Canal Myths

Root canals get a bad rap. The thought of getting a root canal often conjures up thoughts of fear and unease. Fear and misconceptions often lead many to avoid treatment altogether. The truth is, however, that the vast majority of teeth can be saved with minimal time and minimal discomfort. Please see some common myths about root canal treatment below and ask your endodontist to discuss any remaining concerns or questions.

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 routine 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, Netflix or elsewhere, claiming that root canal treatment can cause illness or disease is simply untrue. These false claims are based upon 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. In fact, eliminating infection and inflammation in teeth and the surrounding tissues actually helps decrease pain and the likelihood of systemic disease.

Saving your natural teeth, if possible, is almost always the best option. Nothing artificial can replace the look or function of a natural tooth. 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 treatment time, more money and may result in additional procedures to neighboring teeth and supporting tissues.

More about Root Canals