Mercer Island's Root Canal Specialist, One Easy Exit East
Some things are worth crossing the water for. Dr. Nima Dejbod's practice sits 15–20 minutes east on I-90 — against traffic, with free parking at the door, and none of the downtown-Seattle garage ritual. One patient at a time, on schedule, with your tooth saved by lunch.
Seattle Met Top Dentist 2026VP, WA State Assoc. of EndodontistsAAE MemberNot Corporate-Owned
In pain right now?
A dental emergency on Mercer Island shouldn't mean fighting into downtown Seattle and feeding a parking garage. Same-day same-day slots are reserved every business day — head east on I-90 instead, and be numb within the hour.
Beneath the hard enamel, every tooth holds soft living tissue. A crack or deep cavity opens the door to bacteria, infection sets in, and the confined pressure produces pain that doesn't respond to willpower.
02
The treatment
Under a surgical microscope, Dr. Dejbod cleans the infected tissue out of each canal, disinfects the interior thoroughly, and seals it so bacteria stay out for good.
03
The outcome
Your natural tooth remains — anchoring bone, holding your bite, and sparing you an implant. Your Mercer Island dentist tops it with a crown, and that's the end of the story.
Specialist vs. Generalist
Why Eastside Dentists Refer to Dr. Dejbod
Dentists on Mercer Island and across the Eastside send their complex endodontic cases here for concrete reasons. The comparison:
Evergreen Endodontics
Typical General Office
Training
Two to three years of residency beyond dental school, spent entirely on endodontic diagnosis and treatment
A general degree; root canals are one competency among many
Volume
10,000+ root canals completed — the full schedule, every day of the week
A few cases a month, fitted around the rest of general practice
Magnification
Surgical microscope, up to 14x, on every procedure — calcified and hidden canals get located
Loupes or unaided vision; difficult anatomy can be missed
Sedation
Nitrous, oral, or IV sedation available for every appointment
Varies widely; IV sedation is uncommon outside specialty offices
Your Visit
The Appointment, From Check-In to Relief
An hour, give or take — and most of it is surprisingly uneventful, which is exactly the point.
1
Examine & Image
Digital X-rays and a focused exam come first; complex roots get a 3D CBCT scan. Everything is reviewed with you, together.
2
Explain & Approve
Diagnosis, options, and exact cost in plain language. You give the green light before any treatment happens.
3
Relieve & Restore
Deep numbing, careful microscope work, and your choice of sedation. Most island patients are back on I-90 within the hour.
Comfort Menu
Sedation, Three Ways
Nervous patients are this specialty's bread and butter. Pick your level of awareness:
Option
How It Feels
Best For
Nitrous Oxide
Feather-light relaxation that evaporates within minutes — safe to drive yourself home
Mild anxiety, straightforward cases
Oral Sedation
A pill before your appointment; profoundly relaxed, with the details pleasantly blurred
Moderate fear, longer procedures
IV Sedation
The deepest conscious sedation we offer, adjusted in real time by Dr. Dejbod
Severe anxiety, surgical or retreatment cases
The Instrument Room
Serious Instruments for a Serious Job
A root canal succeeds or fails at the microscopic level. This operatory is built around that fact:
◆
Surgical Microscope
Magnification up to 14x brings hidden canals, tiny fractures, and complex anatomy into full view.
◆
3D CBCT Imaging
Reveals the complete root system before treatment — no surprises mid-procedure.
◆
Digital X-Rays
Instant, low-radiation imaging, walked through with you on a chairside monitor.
◆
Apex Locator
Electronic measurement confirms each canal is cleaned to its precise endpoint.
Patient Voices
Worth the Bridge, They Say
Three selections from 400+ five-star reviews.
★★★★★
“
NO pain or discomfort during or after the procedure.
— David W., Issaquah
Pain-free experience
★★★★★
“
IV sedation made the whole thing feel like a ten-minute nap. I was back at work the next morning.
— Elena S., Seattle
IV sedation
★★★★★
“
The cost was exactly what they quoted before starting. No surprises, no pressure — just relief.
— Tom H., Issaquah
Transparent pricing
An unhurried specialist, on purpose
Meet the Specialist: Dr. Nima Dejbod
“Mercer Island patients have options, including driving into Seattle. They come here because I see one person at a time, I run on schedule, and I don't begin until you understand exactly what's happening and what it costs.”
Dr. Nima Dejbod, DMD · Washington State native · UW graduate · Seattle Met Top Dentist 2026 · Vice President, WA State Association of Endodontists
In-network PPO rates are fixed by your insurer — the same at every in-network office. What differs is the skill and technology behind the fee. Insured patients typically pay $160–$655 out of pocket when benefits remain.
Root Canal
Typical In-Network Rate
Without Insurance
Front tooth (anterior)
~$800 in-network contracted rate
from ~$1,300 without insurance
Premolar (bicuspid)
~$1,000 in-network contracted rate
from ~$1,500 without insurance
Molar
~$1,300 in-network contracted rate
from ~$1,900 without insurance
You'll approve the full cost before we begin — that's a firm policy here, not a courtesy. Get a personalized estimate →
Plans we verify daily for Mercer Island patients
Delta Dental
Regence Blue Shield
Premera Blue Cross
Cigna
Aetna
Guardian
MetLife
United Healthcare
Principal
Ameritas
+11 more plans
Island professionals and Seattle-Eastside commuters carry PPO plans from a wide range of employers, and we're in-network with the major carriers. Benefits are verified before treatment, so your cost is locked in advance.
Getting Here
From Mercer Island: 15–20 Minutes on I-90
Take I-90 east — against traffic in both directions for most of the day — to exit 17, and you're at 600 NW Gilman Blvd. Compare that with the alternative: fighting into downtown Seattle, paying a garage, riding an elevator, and doing it all with a throbbing tooth. Eastgate and Factoria commuters already know the corridor; the island is one easy exit further.
The whole island is 15–20 minutes from our door on I-90 east — and Eastside commuters pass right by every day. If your community is listed below, this page was made for you.
Because specialist-level endodontics isn't on the island — and the trip east is easier than the trip west. We are 15 to 20 minutes away on I-90 at exit 17, with free parking at the door and no downtown Seattle garage or elevator between you and the chair.
Is the drive against traffic?
Most of the day, yes. Morning rush flows west toward Seattle while you head east, and the evening pattern reverses in your favor too. Mercer Island patients routinely make the trip in under 20 minutes.
Do you offer same-day appointments for island residents?
Yes — same-day slots are reserved every business day for severe pain, swelling, and cracked teeth. Call early and you can usually be treated the same day; the short I-90 drive makes same-day care genuinely practical from the island.
What does a root canal cost with insurance?
Contracted PPO rates work out to roughly $800 for an anterior tooth, $1,000 for a premolar, and $1,300 for a molar. Insured patients with remaining benefits generally pay $160–$655 out of pocket — verified before treatment, approved by you.
Can I be sedated for the whole procedure?
Effectively, yes. IV sedation puts you in a deep twilight state with little or no memory of the appointment, and it is adjusted continuously by Dr. Dejbod. Nitrous and oral options are available for lighter anxiety.
For Referring Dentists
Refer Your Patient to Dr. Dejbod
One exit east on I-90 for your Mercer Island patients: same-day emergency care and a detailed treatment report back to your office.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nima Dejbod, DMD, endodontist and Vice President of the Washington State Association of Endodontists. About Dr. Dejbod
Last medically reviewed:
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your dentist, physician, or another qualified health provider with any questions about a dental condition.