Frequently asked questions
A dental procedure is a rare find on people’s wish lists. We realize that. We believe clear information can take away some of the resistance.
Other questions?
Give us a call.
That depends. Call us. That allows us to inquire about your situation. If it’s urgent, for example if you can’t sleep due to the pain, we’ll try to help you within 48 hours.
As far as we’re concerned, only the peculiarities listed below are relevant. But of course we consider every human a unique and marvelous being. #youresospecial
Yikes! Does that mean you’ll start hyperventilating in an elevator? No, seriously: let us know if you feel overwhelmed quickly. Our dental clinic is situated at ground level and spacious enough to feel comfortable, but we will be using a rubber dam to perform the root canal treatment. It’s a standard procedure, though some people find it a bit constricting. A little bit of mindfulness might bring relief and — we kid you not — Alexander learned a facial massage technique aimed at relaxation.
If things don’t work out due to claustrophobic feelings, we abort the treatment and send you home with a prescription for a great tranquilizer. We’ll reschedule the appointment, and you’ll show up a tad dazed and immensely relaxed. Deal?
Congratulations! Please let us know when you book your appointment. We’ll limit the amount of medical x-ray pictures to the bare minimum in order to protect your unborn child from radiation. #nofilter
That happens. The rubber dam and gloves we use might contain latex. But no worries: we can use alternatives that are completely latex free. Please give us a heads up. Also, please let us know if you’re allergic to penicillin or nickel when you book your appointment.
We have the sweetest parking spot right in front of our clinic, you can park there.
Roughly speaking somewhere between 1 and 1,5 hours. It depends on a couple of variables, e.g. the difficulty of the treatment. Most of this time will be spent in the dental chair. We laid out a detailed description of the entire procedure here.
Several variables influence the cost of the procedure. Again, the difficulty of the procedure is decisive. Not a single endodontist in Belgium adheres to the rates of RIZIV (Belgian Sickness and Invalidity Institute). That would not be financially feasible in the current regulatory framework. If you call us, we can provide a general estimate based on your situation. Please bear in mind that some procedures will require extra time due to unforeseeable complications. If you would like a more precise estimate, please book an appointment for a preliminary consultation.
Endodontics is not black or white. Exact predictions are impossible. Some people hardly experience any discomfort while others do. Experience learns us that most people will remain aware that they had a root canal treatment up to 5 to 10 days after the procedure. The tooth might be sensitive. The peak of the post-op discomfort is usually 2 days after the treatment. We will provide a prescription for an anti-inflammatory drug. It will help things to settle down.
Avoid chewing or biting on hard substances for the first couple of days. Also, listen to your body. You’ve had dental surgery. Lay low for a while. Take time for rest and recovery. Your healing tooth will be grateful.
It might take up to a couple of months before the tooth is fully cured.
In most cases we will use a temporary filling to seal the tooth. Your dentist will replace it with a permanent filling 3 to 4 months after the procedure. If you and your dentist wish to do so, we can seal your tooth with a permanent filling. Please consult your dentist beforehand.
Glad you asked. Some people are extremely curious. A staff member in our clinic — we will refrain from specifying who it was due to privacy concerns — once needed surgery after a knee ligament injury. He requested the orthopedic surgeon to perform the procedure using just local anesthetics, so he could observe the entire procedure. So we understand your curiosity. Unfortunately, you will not be able to follow the procedure while it’s being executed. Human anatomy simply does not allow you to observe your own teeth in real time. Our workaround is simple yet effective: we can take pictures during the procedure, documenting every single step, and we’re happy to show you a photo report afterwards.
Our dental clinic is not a hairdressing salon. During the procedure you’ll have to keep your mouth open and refrain from talking. If you want to engage in small talk before or after the procedure, we’re happy to discuss the sword Narsil from Lord of the Rings, the two lizard canaries on our clinic’s logo or the Cruydt-Boeck by Dodoens. Also, we’d like to invite you to share an obscure fun fact or disclose your darkest secrets. #smalltalk