We all have tissue inside our teeth that is responsible for forming the tooth when we are young. It is called the pulp of the tooth or commonly the “nerve”.Since it is a formative tissue, once we are in our teens it’s job is done and is no longer needed for the tooth to survive. A person needs root canal therapy when this tissue has been damaged by trauma, such as a hard blow or a crack, or by disease, such as dental decay, resulting in bacterial infection of these pulp spaces. The root canal procedures typically involve removal of this damaged tissue to allow the tooth to be comfortable and functional again.

We are dentists who have chosen to take two or three more years of training past dental school to become experts in diagnosing and treating diseases affecting the pulp of the tooth. Like a medical specialist, we have the advanced equipment, training and experience to help you when your general dentist feels you would be best served by a referral to us.

The #1 question on everyone’s mind, spoken or not! Dentistry has evolved to the point where the anesthetics and techniques we have available to us allow us to make the pain you have go away and for you to be comfortable during your procedure.

The #2 question on everyone’s mind! The short answer is that saving your tooth through endodontic therapy is less expensive and invasive than extraction and replacement with a bridge or implant.While we don’t publish our fees on the web, any of the staff answering the phone at our office can give you that information. It is important to us for you to know the fee and payment options before you make your appointment, so there are no surprises.

Despite the fact that modern dentistry can be done comfortably, some people are still anxious about dental visits. For those who are mildly this way, we offer nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas”, to help calm them. This option can be chosen at the time of treatment and does not require any advanced notice or additional expense. You can simply advise the appointment secretary or assistant before treatment is begun.  For those who feel like they need more advanced anxiety relief we offer oral sedation with pills, or IV sedation administered by MD anesthesiologists. These generally require a consultation appointment to allow us to decide the best option for you, and can result in additional cost.

Occasionally a tooth that has received root canal treatment will either fail to heal as planned or become reinfected over time. The two main reasons for this are damaged tissue inside the tooth that was not completely removed, or recontamination of the root canal spaces by bacterial leakage.

The root canal spaces of our teeth are not smooth, well-defined tubes, but are rather complex webs of tissue that interconnect, making
complete removal difficult at times. One of the advantages we have as Endodontists is the use of powerful operating microscopes that allow us to discover and remove tissue that a general dentist using conventional visualization methods would have difficulty finding. When we retreat existing root canals this is the first thing we look for.  Root canal therapy can also fail due to recontamination from leakage in restorations. If bacteria from decay or cracks find their way past a filling or a crown it can result in the tooth become sore and possibly swollen. This can necessitate retreatment of the root canal and re-establishing the restorative seal. When you are referred to our office for retreatment the first thing we will do is assess the reason for the problem and discuss with you the options available to resolve it.

On your initial appointment, we will perform a few simple tests on your tooth to confirm the recommended treatment.  Your diagnosis and treatment options will be carefully explained and treatment can often be done on the same day.

Please assist us by providing the following information at the time of your consultation:

Your referral slip
A list of medications you are currently taking
Any medical conditions (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, artificial heart valves and joints, rheumatic fever, etc.)
Dental insurance information, if applicable.  This will allow us to help you process any claims.

IMPORTANT: Parents or guardians must accompany patients under the age of 18 years of age at the consultation visit.

This form, Notice of Privacy Practices, presents the information that federal law requires us to give our patients regarding our privacy practices.

This notice is a pdf document which requires the Adobe Reader software. You most likely already have this software on your computer. However, if you have difficulty reading the notice, please click here to install Acrobat Reader.

We attempt to make every effort to offer payment options that will allow you to stay within your budget.  We offer a 10% discount to senior citizens 65 & older who are paying in full that do not have dental insurance.  For your convenience, we also accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and CareCredit®.  In addition, we offer finance through care credit, but we offer a 6 month plan only (pre approved care credit). We will gladly submit your insurance claims, however, we do ask that your estimated portion be due at the time of service.

Please remember you are fully responsible for all fees charged regardless of your insurance coverage.
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At Tyler Endodontics, we work hand in hand with you to maximize your insurance reimbursement for covered procedures.  Please bring your insurance information with you to the consultation so that we can expedite reimbursement.  Our staff is well informed and up-to-date.  Please call  903.939.3636 if you have any questions or concerns.

Tyler Endodontics is open Monday – Tuesday from 8 am until 5 pm, Wednesday - Thursday 7 am until 5 pm and closed on Friday.  After Hours and weekends we have an answering service that is availabe to reach both doctors.  We will schedule your appointment as promptly as possible. If you have pain or swelling, every attempt will be made to see you that day.

Your time is important and we try our best to stay on schedule to minimize waiting.  However, your patience is appreciated as we provide surgical services and various circumstances may lengthen the time allocated for a procedure.
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Please call 903.939.3636 with any further questions or to schedule an appointment.