[DOCTOR 3VIL]

I always enjoy the threads about "ask a car salesmen anything" or "ask an OBGYN anything". I find them very helpful and educational. So I asked myself why not create a similar thread about root canals. Endodontists are dentist that have 2-3 years of extra training in the field of root canals. I think root canals have gotten a bad rap. Some of my female patients have gone as far as saying that they would rather give birth than get a root canal Without exaggerating I can tell you that >95% of my patients don't feel any pain once they are numb. Most of them have actually fallen asleep during the procedure.
This is in no way an advertisement for me. I am not going to reveal my name or the location of my practice. Just wanted to help out my forum members.

So ask away.....

[Q4P]

Have you ever had a patient that had issues with the general full body anasthesia and had issues snapping out of it to the point of an ER trip? If not what are some measures other than finger oxygen meters that you guys take as a precaution in case if there ever was any trouble?

[iBoost]

My root canal experience was horrible!! Had two done at the same time and then 1 got infected again about a year ago and that was a bad experience too!

Now my ? to you, if any of mine get infected again do you recommend just pulling it out?

[M3Bahn]

I think I would go for an implant over a root canal, why have twice the work done?

[Blayne]

Originally Posted by DOCTOR 3VIL

I always enjoy the threads about "ask a car salesmen anything" or "ask an OBGYN anything". I find them very helpful and educational. So I asked myself why not create a similar thread about root canals. Endodontists are dentist that have 2-3 years of extra training in the field of root canals. I think root canals have gotten a bad rap. Some of my female patients have gone as far as saying that they would rather give birth than get a root canal Without exaggerating I can tell you that >95% of my patients don't feel any pain once they are numb. Most of them have actually fallen asleep during the procedure.
This is in no way an advertisement for me. I am not going to reveal my name or the location of my practice. Just wanted to help out my forum members.

So ask away.....

I should be accepted to dental school pretty soon if all goes well and even now people always laugh and crack jokes bout how I'm not gonna be a real doctor (ever since the hangover movie). Does this bother you at all? Cause we both know who makes more

[DOCTOR 3VIL]

Most root canals are done with regular Novocaine (BTW, this is technically not true anymore. Novocaine isn't used is a liquid anesthesia anymore due to allergic reactions. It's mainly used in the topical gel that is placed on the tissue before numbing).
If patients request to be completely sedated then I have a dental anesthesiologist that comes to my office. He does his thing and I do mine. We never do general anesthesia (unless we are at a hospital setting), it's usually IV sedation (patient still breathes on their own).

[Sara]

Would a root canal save a tooth with resorbtion?

[Q4P]

Originally Posted by DOCTOR 3VIL

Most root canals are done with regular Novocaine (BTW, this is technically not true anymore. Novocaine isn't used is a liquid anesthesia anymore due to allergic reactions. It's mainly used in the topical gel that is placed on the tissue before numbing).
If patients request to be completely sedated then I have a dental anesthesiologist that comes to my office. He does his thing and I do mine. We never do general anesthesia (unless we are at a hospital setting), it's usually IV sedation (patient still breathes on their own).

Thanks for the answer. I only ask because I had all of my wisdom teeth pulled at once; one time and had to have IV sedation; I was always worried something might happen with that. There was a nurse there though and I was hooked up to a finger blood oxygen meter.

[choicez]

I had a root canal done last year and it was the most painless procedure done ever at the dentist office. Even the recovery was painless. I was scared reading about it but I was relieved afterwards.

[DOCTOR 3VIL]

Originally Posted by iBoost

My root canal experience was horrible!! Had two done at the same time and then 1 got infected again about a year ago and that was a bad experience too!
Now my ? to you, if any of mine get infected again do you recommend just pulling it out?

That's a very difficult question to answer without having any x-rays or a history of what happened.

Originally Posted by M3Bahn

I think I would go for an implant over a root canal, why have twice the work done?

Keeping your natural tooth is much better than an implant. Implants are great when they are needed but I rather keep my own tooth if I had a choice. Keep in mind that nothing in dentistry or medicine is 100% effective.

Originally Posted by Blayne

I should be accepted to dental school pretty soon if all goes well and even now people always laugh and crack jokes bout how I'm not gonna be a real doctor (ever since the hangover movie). Does this bother you at all? Cause we both know who makes more

It doesn't bother me at all. I love what I do. Dentistry is not easy but I would choose it over medicine.

[M3Bahn]

Originally Posted by DOCTOR 3VIL

That's a very difficult question to answer without having any x-rays or a history of what happened.

Keeping your natural tooth is much better than an implant. Implants are great when they are needed but I rather keep my own tooth if I had a choice. Keep in mind that nothing in dentistry or medicine is 100% effective.


It doesn't bother me at all. I love what I do. Dentistry is not easy but I would choose it over medicine.

How long can a tooth with a root canal last if it was properly done?

[DOCTOR 3VIL]

Originally Posted by Sara504

Would a root canal save a tooth with resorbtion?

Depends on the amount of resorbtion. If the resorbtion has perforated the tooth then the prognosis is much worse.

Originally Posted by choicez

I had a root canal done last year and it was the most painless procedure done ever at the dentist office. Even the recovery was painless. I was scared reading about it but I was relieved afterwards.

Thank you for that. Most treatments when done correctly are painless much like a filling.

[DOCTOR 3VIL]

Originally Posted by M3Bahn

How long can a tooth with a root canal last if it was properly done?

It can last until the end of your life.

[M3Bahn]

Originally Posted by DOCTOR 3VIL

It can last until the end of your life.

Thanks for info.

I guess I would go for the RC then.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by DOCTOR 3VIL

Depends on the amount of resorbtion. If the resorbtion has perforated the tooth then the prognosis is much worse.

Thank you for that. Most treatments when done correctly are painless much like a filling.

Can I PM you my xray?

[RedBarron]

It cracks me up that your user name is doctor evil! haha

[choicez]

Originally Posted by Sara504

Can I PM you my xray?

If I told you that I was a nude photographer, would you PM me your n00ds?

[Blayne]

Serious question now actually. Why did you choose to specialize in Endo? Couldn't you have just stayed as a general dentist and learn it on your own without having to be restricted to that one area. When I become a dentist I want to do a lot of implants, but don't want to particularly be specialized in oral surgery (periodontist) as I don't want to be restricted to this area. So in turn I would just stay as a general dentist and still do implants. I know a lot of dentists that have done this and are VERY successful. Though, I also know this is frowned upon by some and the specialist are fighting to get this changed. So my question is i guess, what really are the advantages of specializing in a specific area as I may change my mind and go this route.

[DOCTOR 3VIL]

Originally Posted by Sara504

Can I PM you my xray?

Sure

Originally Posted by RedBarron

It cracks me up that your user name is doctor evil! haha

Originally Posted by Blayne

Serious question now actually. Why did you choose to specialize in Endo? Couldn't you have just stayed as a general dentist and learn it on your own without having to be restricted to that one area. When I become a dentist I want to do a lot of implants, but don't want to particularly be specialized in oral surgery (periodontist) as I don't want to be restricted to this area. So in turn I would just stay as a general dentist and still do implants. I know a lot of dentists that have done this and are VERY successful. Though, I also know this is frowned upon by some and the specialist are fighting to get this changed. So my question is i guess, what really are the advantages of specializing in a specific area as I may change my mind and go this route.

. True that I could have learned more about root canals by myself but I would never have reached the level of an Endodontist had I not gone to post-grad school. It is very possible to do root canals (as a general dentist) at the level of an Endodontist but it would be very difficult to go through all the literature and training on your own.
And I don't like doing crown, filling, cleanings....

[iBoost]

Another couple questions about your career:
How many years do you have total invested in school?
How much were you making fresh out of school vs now and is there a lot more area to improve income?
Do you have your own practice or employed?

[matthewk]

Do you do invisilign? What's your take on dentists basically offering orthodontic services? My orthodontist friends, let me preface this by saying they aren't losing business to this, think it's a horrible idea. A lot like handing over a laser eye machine to an optometrist without additional training?

[mact3333]

For a standard root canal, if someone going to pay cash, what is the lowest you would be willing to do a root canal for???...many doc's will negotiate now.