Patient Information

When you call to schedule an appointment, our friendly appointment coordinators will ask you a series of specific questions to learn the symptoms you may have been experiencing as well as any information you may have on your referral form from your dentist. Every effort will be made to accommodate you as soon as possible.

Complicated Cases

Under most circumstances we are able to schedule a consultation and treatment at the same appointment. For complicated cases, a consultation-only appointment may be required prior to treatment for cases that require additional diagnostic time, teeth with previous endodontic treatment, retreatment, resorption, surgery and some fractures. A consultation-only appointment allows time for CBCT scans and careful review of findings to be able to determine the best course of treatment. Cases involving any sedation will also require a consultation prior to treatment.

Emergency Treatment

If you are experiencing severe pain or have an emergency, every effort will be made to accommodate you as soon as possible. 

Staying On Schedule

We are always conscious of staying on schedule and minimizing delays. However, given the technical nature of endodontics, complexities involved, and the attention to detail we give to every case, circumstances may occasionally arise that prolong treatment time to achieve the best possible outcome for our patients. Taking care of people who often are experiencing severe pain is a reality in an endodontic practice. We strive try to help these patients with minimal disruption to our schedule, but this is not always possible. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience!

Cancellation and Rescheduling

We thank you for giving us as much advance notice as possible should you need to change your appointment. Advance notice gives us the opportunity to notify another patient that may be in severe pain so they can be taken care of sooner.

We work hand in hand with you to maximize your insurance reimbursement for covered procedures. Coverage can vary by insurer, specific plan, and treatment type. Contact your dental insurance carrier to confirm the details of your coverage.

Most insurance companies will respond within 4 to 6 weeks. After your insurance has paid, you will be issued a refund for any credit balances. After your insurance has paid, any remaining balance is your responsibility. Your prompt remittance is appreciated.

When your appointment has been scheduled, we will email you a username and password which allows you to log into our system and complete your online registration forms (please click on the ‘patient login button’ above). For the greatest efficiency please have all online registration forms completed prior to arriving for your appointment. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions at (209) 524-9950. Please bring to your appointment;

• If you’re using Care Credit, please let us know, and make sure to bring your 16 digit account # or your physical card with you
• Payment in full or estimated patient portion is due when services are rendered

In most cases we are able to complete the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment in one visit. Other situations may require a separate consultation to determine if root canal treatment is necessary or even possible. The most important goal is to determine the best treatment option for your particular concern. Patients who are scheduled for a consultation only, may possibly have their treatment completed on the same day if indicated and our schedule allows. For the greatest efficiency, please have all online registration forms completed prior to arriving for your appointment.

IMPORTANT: A parent or legal guardian must accompany all patients under 18.

Instructions Following Root Canal Treatment

Avoid chewing in the area where treatment was completed until any numbness resolves to reduce the chance of trauma to the tooth and associated tissues.

If you required a prescription for medication, it will be emailed to your pharmacy. It is recommended you call ahead to the pharmacy to confirm it is ready to pick up. If no prescriptions were given, you may choose to take ibuprofen medications such as Motrin or Advil to relieve discomfort and swelling as long as you have no sensitivities or allergies to these medications. An alternative would be to use Tylenol. Most of the time these medications work best if they are taken at the prescribed interval which keeps a therapeutic level of the medication in your system to give the most relief. If you are not able to establish adequate pain control, call our office.

• If the area around the treatment site is sore or swollen applying a cold compress to the face in the area of the treatment will help minimize swelling. If using an ice pack, please do not apply directly to the skin but place a cloth between your skin and the ice pack at all times. No more than 20 minutes on and an equal time off for up to 6-8 hours as needed.
• If your tooth requires a permanent restoration (crown) avoid chewing or biting on the treated area until your permanent restoration is in place. Avoiding hard substances such as nuts, ice, hard candy, pretzels, etc. Routinely your general dentist will place the final restoration. Please contact your general office so they can schedule to have the final restoration completed as soon as your symptoms resolve.
• If a permanent restoration was placed in our office, then avoid hard substances until the tooth is comfortable to chew on which can vary from a few days to several weeks depending the severity of the infection.
• An increase in pain after the procedure is often referred to as a “Flare-Up” and is usually the result of the infection that has involved the surrounding bone and tissue. This generally occurs in teeth that have been extremely irritated or infected as well as teeth that have a history of prior treatment but sometimes can occur randomly even with patients who have had no issues with root canal treatment in the past. If you have a flare-up, you may experience moderate to severe pain, swelling or throbbing and should contact our office as soon as possible in case you require additional medication or treatment. If you are concerned, please contact our office (209) 524-9950.

Post Operative Instructions following Endodontic Surgery

• Sutures: Sutures are typically removed after 4-7 days.
• The initial healing time: This is the most fragile period and requires your careful precaution. After the sutures are removed, the soft tissue will continue to heal for the next 4-6 weeks.
• Ice the Area: Do this diligently for the first 6-8 hours following surgery with two ice packs you can rotate through the freezer. Icing the area for 20 minutes followed by a 10-minute break and then back on for 20 minutes usually gives the best result. Ice on the day of surgery only.
• Bleeding: Some slight bleeding following surgery for up to 24 hours is not uncommon. Keeping the area iced and your head elevated will help reduce bleeding. The amount noticed should be small. Some blood will mix with saliva and may give the appearance of more. If you notice bleeding to continue for a long period of time without reducing, or if the amount seems to be a lot, then you should contact our office (209) 524-9950.
• Activity: You should minimize aerobic activity or heavy exercise for 48 hours after surgery.
• Care for the Surgical Area: Allow the area to heal. Do not touch the sutures with your tongue which may dislodge the sutures and disturb healing. Some sutures may become loose which is usually not an issue as long as the tissue it was tied to remains in place. Do not chew near the surgical site. A diet of soft foods including protein shakes and smoothies are best during the initial healing phase. Do not suck on straws or from sports bottles or anything that would create a suction in the mouth. Do not brush or floss the affected area. Instead, gently rinse the area with any antibacterial rinse recommended by the doctor. You may brush and floss the other areas of your mouth. Refrain from pulling back on your lip to look at the surgical site unless absolutely necessary so as not to disturb the healing process.
• Discomfort and Swelling: Expect some discomfort and swelling. Take pain medication as directed by the doctor to reduce the pain and possible swelling. If you do experience swelling, it will typically peak at the 2nd or 3rd day following the surgery. Discoloration of the facial skin can sometimes occur but typically resolves without intervention. If you are concerned, please contact our office (209) 524-9950.
• Infection: Antibiotics are not always necessary, but if they have been prescribed for you, it is important they are taken as directed and until completely gone even if you no longer have pain or swelling.