An honest walk-through of what happens between the moment you check in and the moment you leave with a written treatment plan in hand. No surprises, no upsells, and no pressure to proceed with treatment after the visit.
Reviewed by Dr. Jason Kung, DDS, MS — Specialist Endodontist, Sunnyvale CA
1565 Hollenbeck Avenue, Suite 106, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 · (669) 234-2354
Plan for about 60 minutes for a consultation alone. If you choose to proceed with treatment the same day, total chair time is typically 2 to 2.5 hours.
Step 1
5–10 minArrive 10 minutes early. We have ground-floor parking and full ADA accessibility. The intake form takes about 5 minutes; you can complete it online before your visit using the patient intake form to skip the waiting-room paperwork entirely.
Step 2
5–10 minWe begin with periapical images of the tooth when indicated. If conventional images cannot answer a clinical question, a limited-field CBCT on the J. Morita Veraview X800 may help. Scan duration and dose depend on the selected protocol; they are not fixed at nine seconds or a few days of background exposure. Editorial radiation correction, October 18, 2026; this revised statement has not been clinically reviewed.
Step 3
10–15 minDr. Kung tests pulp vitality (cold and electric), checks bite and tap response, traces any cracks under the microscope, and palpates the gums and lymph nodes. The combination of imaging plus exam confirms the diagnosis — pulpitis, necrosis, fracture, or non-endodontic origin.
Step 4
10–20 minDr. Kung explains the diagnosis using your own x-rays and CBCT slices on the chairside monitor, walks through your treatment options (root canal, retreatment, apicoectomy, extraction, or no treatment), discusses prognosis honestly, and answers questions. You then decide whether to proceed.
Step 5
60–90 min (if proceeding)If you'd like to proceed and time allows, we can complete most root canal treatments in the same visit — anesthesia, isolation, instrumentation, obturation, temporary filling. If you prefer to schedule a separate appointment, we'll book it before you leave.
Want to skip the waiting-room paperwork? Complete the intake form online before your visit →
The most common question new patients ask: "will it hurt?" The honest answer: a modern root canal is no more uncomfortable than getting a routine filling. We use specialty-level anesthesia technique — including planned supplemental injections for difficult lower molars rather than relying on them as rescue — and check in throughout treatment to make sure you're comfortable.
Local anesthesia takes 5–10 minutes to take full effect. We don't start instrumentation until you confirm the tooth feels completely numb. You can raise a hand at any point to pause treatment.
Plan for 60 minutes for a consultation visit (intake, imaging, exam, treatment plan discussion). If you choose to proceed with treatment the same day, total time is typically 2–2.5 hours.
A photo ID, your insurance card, the policy holder's date of birth, a list of current medications and allergies, and any x-rays or referral notes from your general dentist (we can also request them directly from your dentist's office). If you've had a CBCT scan elsewhere recently, bringing the disc or a download link can avoid a duplicate scan.
Yes. After the consultation we provide a written estimate showing the procedure, the fee, your insurance benefits applied, and your out-of-pocket cost. Nothing is scheduled or billed without your written consent.
Absolutely. Many patients bring a spouse, parent, or adult friend to the consultation, especially when discussing treatment options for a complex case. Children waiting for a parent in treatment have access to the waiting area.
We see patients by appointment, but we hold reserved emergency slots every clinical day for patients with severe pain or trauma. Call (669) 234-2354 to be triaged into an emergency slot — in most cases we can see emergency patients the same day.
Tell us when you book. We use the same anesthesia and patient-comfort techniques regardless, but knowing you're anxious lets us pace the visit, explain each step before it happens, and check in more frequently. Most patients tell us afterward that the anxiety was much worse than the actual treatment.
We're at 1565 Hollenbeck Avenue, Suite 106, Sunnyvale, CA 94087. Free ground-floor parking. Most insurance plans accepted.
Dr. Jason Kung provides endodontic consultation to patients across Silicon Valley from our Sunnyvale office. Evening and weekend hours, same-day emergencies, free on-site parking.