4 Questions to Ask Your Endodontist

The most common way that patients hear about endodontists or even know that they should visit one is through a referral from their dentist. However, you can visit an endodontist without needing a referral just by calling and scheduling an appointment. The only factor that may need to be taken into account is whether your health insurance will cover an appointment with an endodontist, as many companies will only offer coverage for appointments with an endodontist if it was recommended and referred by a dentist or a primary care physician. It is always recommended that you double-check with the specialists you wish to see to ensure that they do not require a referral to see you and that your insurance will offer coverage for their services. At Ace Endodontics, we offer convenient appointment booking online without the requirement of a referral and are happy to answer any questions regarding insurance coverage.

An endodontist is a type of dentist that has specialized in the pulp and internal structure of the teeth, rather than oral hygiene in general. They typically spend their time treating specific problems in the teeth to save the tooth from being pulled or performing procedures that will save the integrity of the rest of the teeth. A patient will often choose to visit an endodontist rather than a dentist if they are experiencing significant pain in one or more of their teeth and likely require a more intensive procedure rather than just a good cleaning or filling in of a cavity to resolve the issue.

If you are trying to choose an endodontist without a referral for one from your regular dentist, there are a few things you can keep in mind when making the right choice for you. It is always an option to ask for recommendations from people you know who have visited one in the past, as well as research endodontists available in your area with available reviews online. Additionally, if you are searching for an endodontist to treat a specific concern, you may want to look for an endodontist who has vast experience in treating that condition or in approaching treatment in a means that aligns with your values and preferences. Ensuring that the endodontist you choose also accepts your type of insurance can be a major factor to consider when choosing health care providers. You can always schedule consultations with specialists to make sure that you are comfortable receiving care from them and that you are a good fit to be their patient before committing to undergoing treatment with them. 

Endodontists are most commonly known for performing root canals, as the average endodontist will perform more than 25 root canals within one week. However, they can perform a variety of procedures that all have to do with maintaining the integrity and health of the individual teeth. Some other common procedures that endodontists regularly perform include:

Apicoectomy: A procedure similar to a root canal that involves the removal of the root tip to extract damaged tissue within the tooth.

Cracked teeth: Cracked teeth can sometimes leave the pulp of the tooth exposed, requiring procedures similar to root canals to prep the tooth before a dentist places a crown.

Tooth abscess: Abscesses in the teeth can quickly spread and infect the rest of the tooth, making fast intervention vital.

Our team of professionals at Ace Endodontics is dedicated to offering high-quality endodontic treatment and root canal procedures. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 11980 San Vicente Blvd Ste 900 Los Angeles, CA 90049. We serve patients from Brentwood CA, Santa Monica CA, West Los Angeles CA, Beverly Hills CA, West Hollywood CA, Venice CA, Culver City CA, and surrounding areas.