Compare 26 endodontists in Washington, DC. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
26
Endodontists
100%
Accepting patients
54%
Most common: DDS
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
DC's healthcare system reflects the city itself: politically connected, resource-rich, and deeply unequal. Three medical schools and a roster of nationally ranked hospitals coexist with some of the widest health disparity gaps in the country between Wards. The NIH Clinical Center in nearby Bethesda and Walter Reed add a federal layer that no other US city can match. If you know how to navigate the system, the depth of specialty care here is remarkable.
Washington has 26 endodontists. The most common credential is DDS (54%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
GW University Hospital is in Foggy Bottom near the Metro. MedStar Georgetown is in Georgetown (limited transit access, plan for parking or rideshare). MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the city's largest hospital, is in the northeast along Irving Street. Children's National is nearby on Michigan Avenue. The Metro Red Line connects to the Bethesda medical corridor (NIH, Walter Reed, Suburban Hospital). Most specialist offices cluster in Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, and along Connecticut Avenue NW.
Providers practice throughout Washington. Georgetown is medStar Georgetown University Hospital anchors healthcare in this historic neighborhood. Specialty practices line M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Dupont Circle is a central neighborhood with a high density of private practices, particularly in behavioral health and primary care. Whitman-Walker Health provides LGBTQ+ affirming care. Capitol Hill is near MedStar Washington Hospital Center and several congressional health offices. Providence Health serves the eastern neighborhoods. Adams Morgan is a diverse neighborhood with bilingual healthcare options and community health centers. Short commute to Dupont Circle medical offices.
Nearby hospitals include MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Local training programs run through Georgetown University School of Medicine and George Washington University School of Medicine. Washington, DC has one of the highest concentrations of physicians per capita in the United States, driven by its medical schools, research institutions, and federal agencies like the NIH and FDA.
The endodontist will take X-rays (possibly a 3D scan) and test the tooth's vitality with cold or electric stimulation. They will explain whether a root canal can save the tooth and what the procedure involves. The root canal itself is typically completed in one visit lasting 60 to 90 minutes under local anesthesia.
Howard University College of Dentistry offers reduced-cost care in northeast DC. Georgetown and GW do not operate large public dental clinics. Private dental practices in Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Bethesda tend to be more expensive than the national average. Unity Health Care dental clinics serve uninsured and Medicaid patients at multiple locations across the District.
See an endodontist for persistent tooth pain, sensitivity to heat that lingers, a darkened tooth, swelling or tenderness near a tooth, or pain when biting down. Your general dentist may refer you if a tooth needs root canal therapy, especially for molars or teeth with complicated root structures.
Root canal (front tooth): $600-900 · Root canal (molar): $900-1,400 · Retreatment: $900-1,600
DC's water is fluoridated. The humid summers and heated winters create seasonal dry mouth patterns. The District's Medicaid dental benefit for adults is more comprehensive than neighboring Virginia's, covering preventive, restorative, and some prosthetic services.
When decay or damage reaches the nerve inside a tooth, a root canal saves the tooth by removing the infected tissue. Endodontists perform this procedure regularly and use advanced techniques to make it comfortable.
A tooth that continues to ache after a filling or crown may have an issue deeper in the root. Endodontists use microscopes and specialized imaging to find and treat problems other providers might miss.
Cracks in teeth are notoriously difficult to detect on standard X-rays. Endodontists specialize in diagnosing cracks that cause intermittent pain, especially when biting.
An abscess is a pocket of infection at the root of a tooth that can cause severe pain and swelling. Endodontists drain the infection and perform root canal therapy to save the tooth when possible.
A small percentage of root canals do not heal properly or develop new issues years later. Endodontists can re-treat these teeth or perform apicoectomy surgery to resolve persistent infections.
Washington, DC has 26 licensed endodontists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of endodontists in Washington, DC are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
DC Health Link is the District's ACA marketplace, with plans from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare. DC Medicaid covers a broader population than most states, with eligibility up to 210 percent of the federal poverty level for adults. If you live in DC but work in Maryland or Virginia (or vice versa), your employer plan may have different network rules than a DC-based marketplace plan.
A root canal on a front tooth typically costs $600 to $900. Molar root canals range from $900 to $1,400. Retreatment of a previously treated tooth costs $900 to $1,600. Actual costs in Washington, DC depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Root canals are classified as major procedures by most dental plans, usually covered at 50% to 80%. A crown from your general dentist is needed afterward and is billed separately.
DC healthcare is organized around MedStar Health (Georgetown and Washington Hospital Center), GW Health, and Children's National. Sibley Memorial Hospital in northwest DC is a Johns Hopkins affiliate. The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients through research protocols, not standard insurance. Because the metro area spans DC, Maryland, and Virginia, always check whether your provider is in-network for your specific plan and jurisdiction.
DDS stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery and DMD stands for Doctor of Dental Medicine. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Washington, DC, 54% hold the DDS credential and 19% hold DMD. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
Most people see an endodontist only when a specific issue arises, such as a tooth that needs a root canal. Follow-up visits after a root canal are typically scheduled a few months later to confirm healing. With 26 endodontists in Washington, DC, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
Yes. Insurance networks often differ across the three jurisdictions. A DC-based plan may not cover a provider in Bethesda or Arlington at in-network rates, even if they are only a few miles away. MedStar and Kaiser operate across all three jurisdictions, which simplifies things. Always verify your provider's network status for your specific plan.
The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients who qualify for specific research studies, not through standard insurance referrals. If you have a condition that is being actively studied at NIH, your doctor can refer you for a screening. ClinicalTrials.gov lists active NIH studies. There is no cost to patients accepted into NIH studies.
GW Hospital (Foggy Bottom), MedStar Georgetown (Georgetown), and MedStar Washington Hospital Center (northeast DC) are the three main adult emergency departments in the District. Children's National handles pediatric emergencies. MedStar Washington Hospital Center is the region's only Level I adult trauma center.
Top accepted carriers in Washington, DC include qhp-87571, qhp-33602, qhp-30751, unitedhealthcare, and humana.
Root canals are generally covered under dental insurance as a major procedure, typically at 50-80% of the allowed amount. A front tooth root canal costs less than a molar. Your plan may require prior authorization. You will still need a crown from your general dentist afterward, which is billed separately.