Your first appointment with our office will most likely be a consultation. Make sure to show up for your appointment 10 minutes early to fill out paperwork and consent forms. To help you fill out these forms properly, remember to bring your insurance card, subscriber information, and a referral from your general dentist (Most HMO insurance companies require you to have a referral to see a specialist). Make a list of medications you are taking, and allergies you may have, and the chief complaint you are having with your teeth.

A consultation appointment is designed to evaluate the prognosis of your tooth, in other words, the probability that your tooth can be permanently restored.  Unfortunately, not all teeth can be saved by root canal treatment.  Some of the reasons a tooth can not be saved are: root canals are not accessible, the root is severely fractured, the tooth doesn’t have adequate bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored. 

Clinical testing will be done on the affected tooth to arrive at a diagnosis.  This process starts with a digital x-ray of the tooth. The tooth is then tested for pain to bite, palpation, percussion, cold, and heat sensitivity.  The doctor will assess the mobility of the tooth and the health of the surrounding gum tissue. It is important NOT TO TAKE PAIN KILLERS PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT.  Taking pain killers will mask your symptoms, therefore making your clinical tests invalid. Once a diagnosis is made by the doctor, a treatment plan will be presented to you by a professional treatment coordinator.  A quote will be given to you explaining your estimated insurance benefits and financial responsibilities.  Then an appointment will be made for your root canal treatment.

All appointments start with a consultation exam.  However, an emergency appointment can be made if you are in too much pain and can not wait to schedule a two hour appointment.  The doctor can perform a procedure which opens the tooth to remove the nerve, then packs the tooth with medication to kill the infection, and finally places a temporary filling.  This procedure significantly reduces pain and starts the healing process.  An appointment will be made for you to return to finish the root canal.