Not sure if you actually need a specialist
Being told you need a specialist can feel like being told something is seriously wrong. Often, it isn’t. Many root canals, extractions and implants fall well within what an experienced general dentist does every week.
Dr. Khalil is a general dentist, not a specialist, and he’ll tell you so plainly. Ohio’s dental rules reserve the word “specialist” for dentists who meet the state’s specialty requirements, so this page describes the services rather than claiming a title. What matters to you is a clear answer: whether your case can be handled here, and if not, exactly why.
Not knowing which kind of specialist does what
Dental specialists each focus on one area. An endodontist handles complex root canals. An oral surgeon removes deeply impacted teeth and does major jaw and bone work. A periodontist treats advanced gum disease. A prosthodontist plans complex tooth replacement across the whole mouth.
Much of what people expect to be sent out for is done here: most root canals, simple and many surgical extractions, crowns, bridges, dentures and implants. The cases that go to a specialist are the ones at the far end of each of those areas, and you’ll hear which side of that line your case falls on.
Tired of the referral runaround
A toothache gets looked at in one office. Then you’re sent across town for the root canal, and somewhere else again for the crown, each time with new forms, new X-rays and a new bill. It’s one of the most common frustrations people describe about dental care, especially busy parents.
At Premier Family Dental, root canals, extractions, crowns, bridges, dentures and implants are all handled under one roof. Many crowns are finished in a single visit with CEREC, so a tooth that just had a root canal doesn’t have to wait weeks for its permanent crown.
When a specialist really is the right call
Some cases do belong with a specialist, such as a tooth with unusually complex roots or a jaw that needs major rebuilding before an implant. When that’s the honest answer, you’ll hear it, along with what the specialist will do and why it’s beyond what should be done here.
Because the practice is independent, there’s no reason to hold on to a case that should go elsewhere, and no reason to send out one that can be done well here. Your records and X-rays go with you, so the specialist isn’t starting from scratch.
If you are referred, your X-rays and notes go with you, so you aren’t paying for the same images twice. The specialist handles only the step that needs them, and you come back here for everything else, like the crown after a root canal or your regular cleanings.
Nervous about treatment in an unfamiliar office
Part of the dread of a referral is walking into a strange office for something that already scares you. Staying here means the team that knows your history, your nerves and your stop signal is the one doing the work.
If longer treatment like an extraction or an implant feels overwhelming, nitrous, oral and IV sedation are all available in the same office where you get your cleanings. Dr. Khalil earned his conscious sedation license through a residency at Miami Valley Hospital, a credential few general dentists in Ohio hold. You don’t have to find a new place just to be comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dr. Khalil a specialist?
No. Dr. Shahir Khalil is a general dentist. He performs many treatments people associate with specialists, including root canals, extractions and implants, which Ohio allows general dentists to do. When a case truly needs a specialist, he’ll tell you and explain why.
Can you do my root canal here?
In many cases, yes. Root canals are done in-house, and most teeth that need one can be treated here. Molars with curved or extra canals, and teeth where an earlier root canal has failed, are the cases most likely to need a referral. After an exam and X-ray, you’ll know which group your tooth falls into before anything is scheduled.
Do you place dental implants or refer them out?
Implants are placed and restored here, including mini dental implants, which can hold a loose denture firmly in place. If you need significant bone rebuilding first, or your case is unusually complex, you’ll hear that plainly and get a referral to someone who handles that work.
Can you take out my wisdom teeth?
Many wisdom teeth can be removed here, especially ones that have come in or are only partly covered by gum. Teeth that are deeply impacted or sit close to a nerve are often better handled by an oral surgeon, and you’ll be told honestly which yours are after an X-ray. Sedation is available if you’d rather be deeply relaxed for the extraction.
Will my insurance pay the same if you do it instead of a specialist?
Plans vary. Some pay a specialist and a general dentist at different rates for the same procedure, which is one more reason bills surprise people. Before treatment here, you get an upfront itemized estimate with your insurance applied, so you can compare your real cost before deciding where to go.