An endodontist is a dental specialist who has completed two to three additional years of full-time university residency training after dental school, focused exclusively on saving the natural tooth — root canal treatment, endodontic microsurgery, dental trauma, and the diagnosis of difficult tooth pain.
Reviewed by Dr. Jason Kung, DDS, MS — Specialist Endodontist, Sunnyvale CA
UCLA School of Dentistry (DDS), Oregon Health & Science University (MS, Endodontics). Member, American Association of Endodontists.
Only 44% of US adults know what an endodontist is. A May 2026 national survey commissioned by the American Association of Endodontists (n=2,000 US adults, Atomik Research, ±2pp at 95% CI) — yet endodontists are the specialists whose entire focus is saving natural teeth. Read the survey breakdown →
Stage 1 · 4 years
Undergraduate degree
A four-year bachelor's degree, typically with prerequisite coursework in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics. The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is taken in the third year.
Stage 2 · 4 years
Dental school (DDS or DMD)
Four years of dental school. Graduates earn either a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) — the two degrees are equivalent.
Stage 3 · 2–3 years
Endodontic residency
Two to three years of full-time, university-based residency accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Residents complete intensive coursework in pulp biology, microbiology, pharmacology, biomaterials, and dental traumatology, plus thousands of hours of supervised clinical training under the surgical operating microscope.
Optional · MS or Certificate
Master's degree in endodontics
Many residency programs award a Master of Science (MS) in addition to the specialty certificate, requiring an original research thesis and publication. Dr. Kung completed his MS at Oregon Health & Science University.
Total: 10 to 11 years of full-time post-secondary education before independent practice as a Specialist Endodontist.
Endodontists focus on the inside of the tooth and the bone immediately surrounding the root tip — the pulp, the root canal system, and the periapical tissues. The day-to-day clinical scope includes:
Endodontic residency teaches the use of equipment that is designed specifically for treating the canal system at high magnification. Our practice uses:
All three are dentists, but each has a distinct training pathway, scope of practice, and place in your care. Here is how the roles actually differ.
| Factor | Endodontist | General Dentist | Prosthodontist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training after dental school | 2–3 year ADA-accredited residency in endodontics (MS or certificate). | No required residency; general practice. | 3 year ADA-accredited residency in prosthodontics. |
| Scope of practice | Limited exclusively to diseases of the dental pulp and roots — root canal, retreatment, microsurgery, dental trauma, cracked teeth. | Broad general care: cleanings, fillings, crowns, simple extractions, basic root canals on straightforward teeth. | Restorative and replacement work — crowns, bridges, dentures, implants, full-mouth rehabilitation. |
| Technology you should expect | Surgical microscope, CBCT 3D imaging, ultrasonic instrumentation, bioceramic sealers. | Digital x-rays, intra-oral cameras, sometimes loupes. | Digital scanners, CAD/CAM milling, smile design software. |
| Sees how many root canals per year | Roughly 25 per week — exclusively endodontic cases. | Highly variable — many do fewer than one per week. | Rarely performs root canals; refers to endodontists. |
| Referral required? | No — patients can self-refer. | Usually your primary point of contact. | No — but often coordinated through your general dentist. |
| When to see this provider | Persistent or unexplained tooth pain, prior root canal not healing, dental trauma, suspected cracked tooth, second opinion before extraction. | Routine cleanings, exams, fillings, basic crowns, first stop for any tooth complaint. | Multiple missing teeth, full-mouth reconstruction, complex bite or jaw issues. |
You can schedule directly with an endodontist — no referral required. Common reasons patients come to our office:
No referral needed.
We're an out-of-network specialty practice that accepts most PPO insurance and provides clear cost estimates before any treatment is scheduled.An endodontist is a dentist who has completed two to three additional years of full-time university residency training after dental school, focused exclusively on diagnosing tooth pain and performing root canal treatment, endodontic microsurgery, dental trauma management, and related procedures that save the natural tooth. Endodontists are recognized as specialists by the American Dental Association.
After earning a DDS or DMD degree (4 years), an endodontist completes an accredited 2- to 3-year postgraduate residency program. The residency includes intensive coursework in pulp biology, microbiology, pharmacology, and biomaterials, plus thousands of hours of supervised clinical training using surgical operating microscopes, ultrasonics, CBCT 3D imaging, and microsurgical instrumentation that are not standard equipment in general dentistry.
Root canal treatment, root canal retreatment, apicoectomy (microsurgical root-end resection), management of dental trauma (avulsed, luxated, or fractured teeth), diagnosis of cracked teeth and tooth resorption, regenerative endodontics for immature permanent teeth, and pulpotomy. Endodontists also serve as a diagnostic resource when the source of dental pain is unclear.
No. You can schedule directly without a referral from your general dentist, although many of our patients do come on referral. We will share treatment notes and final radiographs with your dentist after care is complete so the restorative phase (typically a crown for posterior teeth) can be coordinated.
Endodontic specialty training is 2 to 3 years of full-time, hospital- or university-based residency completed after the 4-year dental degree — for a total of 10 to 11 years of post-secondary education. Programs are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Endodontics is one of twelve recognized dental specialties in the United States, alongside oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, and others. Each specialty has its own residency training pathway and scope of practice. Endodontists focus on the inside of the tooth and the surrounding bone — the pulp, the root canal system, and the periapical tissues.
We see patients from across the South Bay — Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View, Santa Clara, San Jose, Los Altos, and Palo Alto. Out-of-network with all PPOs; we'll give you a clear estimate before any treatment is scheduled.
Dr. Jason Kung provides specialist endodontic care to patients across Silicon Valley from our Sunnyvale office. Evening and weekend hours, same-day emergencies, free on-site parking.