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endodontist of Fort Bend Dental

Department of Endodontics

Do you have an infected or damaged tooth? Your dentist may recommend that you see a root canal specialist.

At Fort Bend Dental, our patients don’t have to go elsewhere for endodontics treatment. We have a highly trained endodontist in-house.

Learn more about the expert care you can receive from Dr. Zhen Shen at any of our three offices in Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Aliana and Sugar Land, TX…

Free Second Opinions

Has your dentist recommended you for root canal treatment? Dr. Shen is happy to conduct an examination and confirm your dentist’s diagnosis at no charge. Give us a call today to schedule your complimentary second opinion.

Everything You Want to Know About Root Canal Treatment

We invite you to experience this multimedia explanation of the root canal procedure.

What Is Endodontics?

Endodontics is the field of dentistry focused on the internal tissues of teeth. Patients typically require endodontic treatment when bacteria causes an infection in the dental pulp (the soft tissue inside a tooth), necessitating root canal therapy.

What Is an Endodontist?

An endodontist is a highly specialized dentist who focuses exclusively on saving teeth through root canal treatment. Becoming an endodontist requires two additional years of training after dental school. Less than three percent of dentists are endodontists.

Advanced Root Canal Therapy

If you’ve been told you need a root canal, you may be nervous, especially if you already struggle with dental anxiety. But when you choose Fort Bend Dental in Missouri City, Richmond, Aliana, Sugar Land, or Rosenberg, TX, for endodontics, there is nothing to be worried about.

Dr. Shen is an exceptionally trained specialist who uses the latest technology and techniques during every root canal procedure. Additionally, he prioritizes patient comfort and he will never begin your treatment until you are fully relaxed and all of your questions are answered.

Best of all, nervous patients can take advantage of our sedation dentistry options, which can help you calmly sit through your root canal.

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Stephanie's Root Canal Experience

“I was so scared, but Dr. Shen and Amber calmed my nerves… I didn’t feel anything.” Dr. Zhen Shen and his team were able to ease Stephanie’s dental anxiety and get her out of pain.

Meet Our Endodontist

Zhen Shen, DMD, PhD, MSD

Dr. Zhen Shen is one of the most respected and accomplished dental specialists in Fort Bend County. After graduating from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, he went through two additional years of training in endodontics. Now, he uses advanced technology and his vast knowledge to serve the patients of Fort Bend Dental in Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Aliana and Sugar Land, TX.

Schedule an Endodontic Consultation

Contact Fort Bend Dental Today

Fort Bend Dental has provided patients in Fort Bend County with exceptional dentistry serving the community since 1987. Now that Dr. Zhen Shen has joined our team in Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Aliana and Sugar Land, TX, we are able to offer the finest endodontic services in addition to our full suite of dental services.

If you are seeking an endodontist, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Shen. If you need a second opinion, he can provide one free of charge. If he confirms that you do need a root canal, he can complete your procedure comfortably and save your tooth.

To schedule an appointment at any of our offices in Missouri City, Aliana, Sugar Land, Richmond, or Rosenberg contact us online or give us a call.

Call Us: (281) 789-6844

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Emergency Care Available

We are happy to offer emergency dental services to our patients in Richmond, Rosenberg, Missouri City, Aliana and Sugar Land, TX. If you have a severe toothache or some other dental emergency, we will make sure you are seen as soon as possible, even on a weekend.

The Benefits of Endodontics

Save Your Tooth

If an infection is allowed to fester for too long, a tooth can become too compromised to save and extraction may be necessary. When Dr. Shen performs a root canal, he will remove the infected tissue and use advanced dental materials to repair and protect the tooth, allowing it to stay in place.

Relieve Your Pain

An infected tooth can cause serious discomfort, including sharp pain while chewing, sensitivity to hot and cold, or a persistent toothache. At your endodontic appointment, Dr. Shen can remove the infected material from your tooth, eliminating the cause of your pain.

Protect Your Health

When left untreated, a dental infection can spread to your gums and even enter your bloodstream, potentially affecting your whole body. In severe cases, these infections can be life-threatening. It’s important to have a skilled endodontist remove the infection as early as possible.

See How Root Canal Treatment Works

During a root canal at our offices in Missouri City, Aliana, Sugar Land, Richmond, or Rosenberg, TX, Dr. Shen will remove the pulp from your infected tooth. He will then fill the tooth with a safe material called gutta-percha. Finally, he will protect the tooth by placing a custom-made crown.

Signs You Need an Endodontist

The earliest signs of an endodontic infection will often be detected by your general dentist during a routine check-up. However, if you haven’t seen a dentist in some time, you may start to develop noticeable symptoms. You should contact one of our offices located in Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Aliana and Sugar Land, TX, as soon as possible if you experience:

Need to Refer an Endodontist?

Reach Out to Us as a Fellow Practitioner

Are you a dentist whose patient needs a specialist? We understand that referrals are not made lightly; they can reflect on your professional judgment and practice. Dr. Shen has the training, credentials, and consistent patient satisfaction you and your patients can rely on.

We are happy to make lasting connections with dental professionals in the Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Aliana and Sugar Land, TX, areas. For more information, please visit the Fort Bend Dental Academy, or call our offices at:

(281) 499-3541

fellow practitioner

Sedation Dentistry Available

While our local anesthesia and modern technology provide a virtually painless experience, root canal therapy can intimidate some patients. To help relieve dental anxiety, we offer three forms of sedation:

Nitrous Oxide

Also known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is a safe and fast-acting sedative that helps ease your nerves while letting you remain aware of your surroundings. Nitrous oxide is a lighter type of sedation that wears off within minutes, allowing you to drive home after the procedure.

Oral Sedation

Patients can receive oral sedation in the form of a prescribed pill on the day of the procedure. Oral sedation is a mid-level form of sedation, but the strength varies depending on the prescription and dosage. The effects tend to last longer, so you’ll need someone else to drive you to and fro our office.

IV Sedation

Patients can receive our strongest form of conscious sedation through an IV. The primary difference in choosing this method is that the level of sedation can be immediately adjusted to meet your comfort needs. Patients who receive IV sedation will need a designated driver.

Same-Day Services

We combine the specialized talents of staff like Dr. Shen with sophisticated technology for the very best results. For example, CEREC technology allows us to craft and place a dental crown on the same day as your root canal therapy, eliminating the need for a temporary crown.

CEREC Machine

Depending on your needs, Dr. Shen may need to schedule a follow-up appointment to monitor your progress and ensure the infection is gone. In this case, we will need to use a temporary crown until we have determined that your tooth is ready for a permanent crown.

Financing Your Endodontic Care

Endodontic treatments are considered necessary medical care, which means that most insurance plans cover part or all of the cost. For patients without insurance, our practice works with CareCredit®, a lender who can allow you to pay in low-interest monthly installments.

Our friendly and experienced staff can help you explore these options so you can determine which is best for your needs.

A Sneak Peek Inside Our Endo Suite | Fort Bend Dental | Dentists in Texas

At Fort Bend Dental, our dentists and staff members have the experience and skills to help you maintain good oral health for life. We provide a variety of services tailored to each patient’s unique dental needs and goals. Our aim is to provide a high level of care while keeping you comfortable during all of your visits. We’ve invested in comfortable, modern facilities that are equipped for practically all of your dental needs, and we’ve got multiple locations just in case you’re in need of emergency care. If you’re looking for an up-to-date dental practice that pairs excellence with compassion, look no further.

"I chose the right team."

Endodontics FAQs



Can’t a dentist perform a root canal?

Some general dentists do perform root canal therapy. However, most dentists will refer root canal cases to endodontists. Endodontists are exclusively focused on treating the interior structures of teeth, so they are more experienced and more qualified to perform these procedures. At Fort Bend Dental, we have Dr. Shen on staff, so we don’t have to refer you to another practice.



Do endodontists do anything other than root canal treatment?

The great majority of endodontic treatments involve root canal therapy. Endodontists can also perform other procedures, such as treating a tooth after it experiences some kind of trauma.



What’s better? A root canal or an extraction?

At Fort Bend Dental, we always think it’s best for our patients to keep their natural teeth whenever possible. That’s why we recommend root canal therapy instead of extraction. When performed by an experienced specialist like Dr. Shen, root canal treatment is safe and predictable, and it allows you to keep your natural tooth.

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