A new name for your North Bethesda endodontist

Dear new and current patients,

For more than three decades, this office has been where patients come for calm, welcoming, and expert endodontic care in North Bethesda. Dr. Gamson built that reputation one patient at a time, and it's why I wanted to continue his work.

I'm Dr. Kortnie Strother, the owner of Rock Creek Endodontics. Dr. Gamson has now retired, and the practice he built carries on with the same team, in the same office.

If something is hurting, call us. We'll get you in.

With gratitude, your North Bethesda endodontist:

Dr. Kortnie Strother, DDS, MS, MSD

Diplomate, American Board of Endodontics

A dentist's granddaughter, a cancer survivor, an endodontist

Dr. Strother's path to endodontics started with her grandfather, the first dentist in a small Texas town. Before dentistry, she served as a Captain in the U.S. Army at Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir. She earned her dental degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center and completed her endodontic training in 2020.

She is a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics, the highest level of achievement in the specialty. A breast cancer survivor, mom, and caring endodontist, Dr. Strother is committed to creating a calm environment and recommending treatment only when it will truly benefit the patient.

Meet Dr. Strother

Dr. Kortnie Strother working under the microscope at Rock Creek Endodontics

What can we help you with?

Most people arrive one of three ways: a referral from their dentist, a tooth that started hurting, or a second opinion on a plan from somewhere else.

Root Canal Therapy

Treatment for a tooth whose nerve is infected or inflamed, including retreatment of root canals done elsewhere. Learn more

Endodontic Surgery

An apicoectomy treats the tip of the root under the microscope when a root canal alone has not settled the problem. Learn more

Emergency Endodontic Care

Call us when a tooth flares up. We will assess it and do what we can to get you out of pain that day. Learn more

Cracked Tooth Diagnosis

Cracks are one of the harder things in dentistry to find. The microscope and the 3D scan are how we find them. Learn more

Second Opinions

A second look at a root canal or an extraction recommendation, with imaging and a clear explanation of what we see. Learn more

Trauma Management

We stabilize a knocked-out or displaced tooth quickly, then follow it over time, which matters for athletes and for children whose teeth are still developing. Learn more

See All Services

North Bethesda patients

The sound of trust

I have to admit, I was super nervous, but Dr. Kortnie Strother (amazing doctor and an Army vet… can I get a hooah?) took time and explained to me in detail about the procedure and made me feel comfortable and at ease each time.

Bobby Y.

I want to thank Dr. Kortnie Strother for her care during a root canal procedure. She was pleasant, took the time to explain the entire process, and even called me a few days later to check on me. I was expecting a lot of pain following the procedure, but I barely had any pain at all.

Stephanie H.

Refer a patient in two minutes

Download the fillable form below, complete it, and send it along with your patient; we'll handle scheduling and report back after treatment.

Patients seeking a second opinion about a root canal or a tooth extraction are welcome to call directly.

Download the Referral Form For Referring Doctors

Treatment room at Rock Creek Endodontics

Finding the problem is most of the work

A tooth that hurts doesn't always tell you which tooth it is, and a flat X-ray leaves a lot out. First visits at Rock Creek Endodontics usually include a CBCT scan, a 3D image of a small area of your jaw that shows cracks, extra canals, and infection that a standard X-ray can miss.

CBCT images a targeted area rather than your whole jaw, and the detail is what lets us treat the right tooth the right way. Dr. Strother works under a Zeiss microscope and uses ultrasonics and bioceramic materials.

Call (301) 493-4496

A CBCT scan showing a three-dimensional view of the jaw

3D imaging Zeiss microscope

Entrance to the Rock Creek Endodontics office

A note about insurance

We are currently transitioning into network with every insurance provider previously accepted here. Since statuses change often, please call our friendly team before your appointment so we can verify your benefits. We'll handle the insurance details on our end to keep your out-of-pocket costs clear, transparent, and predictable.

We accept cash, check, and credit card, and you'll know the cost before you agree to treatment.

Call (301) 493-4496

Come on in

A short tour of the office, so you know what to expect when you arrive.

Plan My Visit

Common questions

Does a root canal hurt?

Most of the pain people associate with root canals is the infection that sent them in, not the treatment. The tooth is numb throughout, and if you are uncomfortable at any point, we stop and fix it. Nobody here expects you to sit through pain.

What does a root canal cost?

It depends on the tooth and what is going on inside it, so a number here would only mislead you. We check your benefits and give you the cost before you agree to anything.

Can my tooth actually be saved?

Often, yes, and finding out is the point of the first visit. Some teeth are not worth treating, and if yours is one of them you will hear that plainly instead of after treatment that was never going to work.

How long does treatment take?

That depends on the tooth. Some cases are finished in one appointment, and others need a second visit. Trauma cases are followed over months rather than closed out in a day.

Do I need a referral to see a North Bethesda endodontist?

No. Many patients come from their general dentist, and many call on their own after a tooth starts hurting or after a diagnosis they want checked. Either way works.

If a tooth is bothering you, we are here for you

Call us during office hours to talk to a member of our team. If you have a referral slip from your dentist, have it handy. If not, that's fine too.

Call (301) 493-4496 Or send us an email

Our office in North Bethesda

Finding our office

We're in a two-building complex. Our entrance is on the ground floor at the rear of the building. The building sits on a hillside, so the floor you see when you drive up is the second floor, not the ground floor.

To reach us, take the exterior stairs between the two buildings, or use the accessible ramp on the south side of the buildings, closest to the Tilden Lane entrance. If stairs are hard for you, look for the ramp.

If you get turned around, call us and we'll guide you in.

Rock Creek Endodontics

11510 Old Georgetown Rd., Ste. E
North Bethesda, MD 20852

Phone: (301) 493-4496
Email: hello@rockcreekendo.com
Fax: (301) 493-4165

Hours

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

We see patients in English, Hebrew, and Spanish.

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