Questions

Enamel – This is the exterior of the tooth that you can see. It is white and very tough to put up with all that chewing we do!

Gum – This is the soft tissue surrounding the tooth. If you are brushing regularly, you are not only keeping your teeth healthy, but your gums as well! This tissue helps protect the bottom of the tooth, including the root, and taking care of it will help keep you out of our office!

Dentin – This is the next interior layer of our tooth. It is tough, but not as much as the enamel. This portion of the tooth decays easier and once decay finds a hole through the enamel, it can really dig into the dentin.

Pulp – The pulp is the interior most layer of the tooth. When we feel pain in our tooth, this is the part of our tooth that is causing it. Once you have a problem with the pulp of your tooth, we can remove this portion of your tooth to prevent it from causing you pain.

Root – This is the sensory portion of your tooth, containing the nerve which leads back to your brain. The root also holds the tooth in place in your jawbone. If we remove the nerve ending in this area, but leave the root, your tooth will no longer hurt, and you can go back to living you life, complete with your natural tooth intact.

Your general dentist may refer you to our office for several reasons. Root canal treatment is needed if there is hot, cold, or biting pain. Normal teeth should not hurt. Sometimes there is no pain but swelling and drainage around a tooth, which also indicates a root canal. Root canal treatment is painless and takes about an hour. There is no need to see your general dentist for a referral in most cases (except for some insurances).

Many problems can arise from improper root canal procedures. Dr. McMurtrey has years of Endodontic training and 25 years experience. Anatomy, the location of the tooth and calcified canals add to the difficulty of treatment. We have special equipment, flexible titanium files and two different kinds of micro scopes to help ensure the quality of your root canal treatment.

Most people believe that root canals cause pain. Experience and technology have made root canal treatment a fairly painless procedure. In fact, it is so much like having a filling, most patients leave our office after a root canal and within a few hours feel less pain then when they came in.

Most insurance companies pay a portion of the procedure, but different insurance companies pay different percentages. Insurances can be confusing and if you have questions, please call us. Our experienced office staff can provide answers to most of your questions and in many cases can look up your coverage. If you are concerned about payment, please contact your insurance provider prior to your dental appointment.

Most Endodontic procedures take an hour to an hour and a half to complete. Patients are able to drive themselves home after a root canal or surgery with no problems as long as forms of sedation are not used.

Most root canal or surgery appointments only take one visit. Occasionally we do need to see you more then once, but that will be determined after we evaluate the tooth and discuss treatment options.

In most cases you’ll need to follow-up with your general Dentist in one month. We’ll place a temporary filling in the biting surface of the tooth and your Dentist will replace our temporary filling with a permanent filling and crown. Placing a crown on the tooth will prevent it from cracking and help to preserve the tooth for a long time.

Extractions are not recommended, they are a quick fix but replacing them is very costly. The cost of a bridge is about three times that of a root canal, and implants are even more expensive. Being able to keep and restore the health of your tooth is our goal. If the tooth is non-salvageable we will be able to tell you that at your appointment and recommend a different treatment plan at that time.

We have someone on call for emergencies seven days a week. We will be able to help you resolve your problem by listening to your concerns and taking action to solve the problem. Just contact us at 303.422.6464 and live person will be there for you. We also can make an appointment to have you back to re-evaluate the area if need be. Most of the time the tooth just needs a little TLC and time for it to settle down and heal. Call us and we’ll help!

We care about you! We follow OSHA guidelines for sterilizations. We monitor weekly our autoclave to ensure you saftey. We have dedicated employees who have been with the practice from four years to twenty years, making us highly trained and efficient. Our goal is to make your appointments smooth and painless. We are dedicated to giving you the best treatment available. We use the most sophisticated equipment from digital X-rays and microscopes to flexible titanium files to follow the contour of the tooth. The anatomy of a tooth can be very difficult, but our experience and special equipment enables us to treat your tooth successfully.