Clear, honest answers to the questions patients ask most often — written by Dr. Jason Kung, Specialist Endodontist.
Tooth emergencies have a talent for arriving Friday night. Here's exactly what happens when you call a weekend endodontist — from the first phone call to walking out with the pain handled.
Read articleWhen your dentist says “I'd like to send you to a specialist for this one,” many patients quietly wonder what's wrong. Nothing is wrong — in fact, that sentence is one of the best signs you've chosen a careful dentist.
Read articleLower front teeth look like the easiest root canals in the mouth: one root, one canal, easy access. A July 2026 Journal of Endodontics study used high-resolution micro-CT to map 100 of them — and found the opposite. Their canals are ribbon-shaped, asymmetric, and wider than any standard instrument can fully touch.
Read articleTwo offices can both say they focus on root canals — yet only one may be run by a residency-trained specialist. The wording on the door tells you which is which, if you know how to read it.
Read articleThe July 2026 issue of the Journal of Endodontics published one of the longest-running root canal outcome studies ever: 7,340 root canals tracked in a single institution from 2008 to 2025. The headline numbers are reassuring — but the study's most practical lesson is about what happens in the weeks after your root canal appointment.
Read articleA root canal can last a lifetime — but the outcome depends on several factors. Here's what the research shows and how to give your tooth the best chance.
Read articleYour dentist referred you to an endodontist — but what does that actually mean? Here's a plain-English explanation of why specialists exist and what they can do for your tooth.
Read articleIf you've just been told you have external cervical resorption, the first question is usually 'can my tooth be saved?' The honest answer is that it depends on how early it's caught and how it's treated — and a 2022 study that followed teeth for up to 10 years shows exactly which factors matter most.
Read articleMost root canals heal predictably — but why do some teeth get infected, hurt more, or take longer to recover than others? A growing body of research points to an unexpected factor: your genes. Here's what the emerging science of precision endodontics means for patients.
Read articleA root canal clears the infection inside a tooth — but new research suggests the benefits may reach far beyond your mouth. A 2025 study tracked patients' blood chemistry for two years and found measurable improvements in glucose and cholesterol metabolism after treatment.
Read articleA vertical root fracture is one of the hardest problems in dentistry to diagnose — and one of the most consequential, because it often decides whether a tooth can be saved. A new 2026 systematic review looked at whether artificial intelligence can help spot these fractures on 3D scans. The results are promising, with an important caveat.
Read articleIf you've ever had a tooth that just wouldn't get numb — or you're dreading that it might happen during your root canal — you're not imagining things. It's a real, well-studied phenomenon, and an experienced endodontist has reliable ways to solve it.
Read articleFacing a severely damaged tooth and unsure whether to save it or pull it? Here's an honest, side-by-side look at root canal treatment versus extraction to help you decide.
Read articleMost root canals can be completed in one appointment, but some teeth do better with two. A 2026 survey of U.S. endodontists reveals what drives that decision — and why the number of visits doesn't change how well treatment works.
Read articleMost cracked posterior teeth can be saved — but a 2026 Journal of Endodontics study of 263 teeth shows the prognosis swings from 98% to 33% depending on crack depth and periodontal status. This is a practical staging and referral guide for general dentists.
Read articleA cracked molar doesn't automatically mean extraction. A 2026 study of 263 cracked teeth found an overall success rate of 82.9% — with prognosis driven by how deep the crack runs and whether a gum pocket has formed along it.
Read articleMolars have two or three roots, and sometimes only one of them is the problem. Root resection and hemisection are decades-old procedures that remove the failing root and keep the rest of the tooth in function — often for 10 or more years. Here's when it works, when it doesn't, and how to decide.
Read articleGoing to an out-of-network endodontist doesn't mean insurance pays nothing. Here's a plain-English breakdown of how PPO reimbursement actually works — and what to expect before your appointment.
Read articleYour first endodontic consultation is more conversation than procedure. Here's a calm, honest look at what Dr. Kung will do, ask, and explain during your visit.
Read articleA May 2026 AAE national survey found only 27% of US adults know a knocked-out tooth has roughly a 30-minute window to be saved, and 60% admit to delaying dental care they knew they needed. The conviction is there — 78% would do almost anything to keep a natural tooth — but the knowledge is not. Here is what the survey reveals, and what to actually do in the moments that matter.
Read articleInside a cave in southern Siberia, researchers have found a Neanderthal molar with a small, deliberately drilled hole on its biting surface. Micro-CT analysis, traceological work, and experimental replication with stone tools point to a single conclusion: someone, 59,000 years ago, performed something startlingly close to a modern root canal.
Read articleIf a previous root canal is failing, the most useful question is no longer 'does retreatment work?' but 'in cases like mine, how well does it work, and what makes the difference?' A 2024 Journal of Endodontics systematic review of 29 studies gives the cleanest contemporary answer yet.
Read articleGentleWave is one of the most heavily marketed technologies in modern endodontics. A new May 2026 scoping review in the Journal of Endodontics looked at 22 studies and reached a conclusion the marketing doesn't capture: against any competent activation technique — ultrasonic, sonic, laser — GentleWave shows no meaningful clinical advantage. Here's the honest read for patients deciding whether to seek out a GentleWave practice.
Read articleOn April 30, 2026, the Journal of Endodontics published a peer-reviewed survey of 1,352 dentists (793 endodontists and 559 general dentists). It's the largest dual-perspective study of root canal referrals ever conducted — and it identified a specific friction point that quietly affects how your tooth gets treated. Here's the finding, why it matters for patients, and how our practice addresses it.
Read articleThe American Association of Endodontists just published updated guidelines for treating dental trauma — from knocked-out teeth to fractures and luxation injuries. Here's what patients should know about the new recommendations.
Read articleThe American Association of Endodontists released its 2026 Endodontist–General Dentist Referral Patterns Survey on May 4. Three findings stand out: 90% of endodontic root canals come from referrals, 53% of all root canal cases now go to specialists (up from 43% in 2012), and 92% of general dentists report a positive perception of endodontists. Here's the practical takeaway for patients.
Read articleOn paper an extraction costs less than a root canal. But the moment a tooth comes out, a long chain of replacement costs begins. Here's the honest math over 10 and 20 years.
Read articleEndodontists have long known that root canal treatment saves teeth. Now a new study suggests it may also reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes by eliminating a hidden source of chronic inflammation.
Read articleUpper tooth pain, pressure behind the eyes, and stuffiness can point to either a cracked tooth or a sinus infection. Here's how to tell them apart before your symptoms get worse.
Read articleRoot canals are one of the most successful procedures in dentistry — but they aren't perfect. Here's an honest look at how often they fail, what causes failure, and how well retreatment actually works.
Read articleEvery May, the American Association of Endodontists reminds us that nothing replaces your natural tooth. Here's why that message matters more than ever in 2026 — and what it means for patients weighing root canal treatment versus extraction.
Read articleYour dentist referred you to an endodontist for a root canal. Now what? Here's exactly what to do before, during, and after your appointment — a practical checklist so you arrive prepared and leave with one less thing to worry about.
Read articleDental anxiety is one of the most common reasons patients delay root canal treatment — sometimes until the infection becomes a medical emergency. Modern endodontic offices have effective tools to manage fear at every level, from mild unease to severe phobia.
Read articleWhen researchers compared modern apicoectomy outcomes with and without a high-power surgical microscope, the overall difference was 88% vs. 94%. But for molars — the teeth that are hardest to reach, hardest to save, and most expensive to replace — the gap was statistically significant in a way it wasn't for the front teeth.
Read articleWhen implant manufacturers say their devices have a 95%+ success rate, where do those numbers come from? A systematic review of the implant outcome literature found patterns that should make any patient — and every dentist — read industry-sponsored research with a careful eye.
Read articleIf your dentist mentions an apicoectomy, the procedure can sound far more intimidating than it actually is. Here's exactly what happens in the room — drawn from the same step-by-step protocol that endodontic residents learn in school and that Dr. Kung uses for every surgical case.
Read articleA surgical operating microscope is the difference between guessing what's inside a tooth and seeing it clearly at 26× magnification. The published evidence shows it changes outcomes by 10–35 percentage points. Here's why every patient should ask if their endodontist uses one.
Read articleA little soreness after a root canal is completely expected — but how do you know when lingering pain is something more? Here's what to watch for and why.
Read articlePatients are often told that getting an implant is more predictable than saving a natural tooth with a root canal. The published evidence does not support that claim. Here's what 30 years of long-term outcome studies actually show.
Read articleIf your dentist has mentioned an apicoectomy, the technique used matters far more than most patients realize. The largest meta-analysis on the subject found that endodontic microsurgery succeeds in 94% of cases — compared to 59% with traditional surgical methods still common in oral surgery offices.
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