We start with a comprehensive examination to diagnose your dental condition. In consultation with your restorative dentist, we will determine if your tooth is a good candidate for endodontic therapy and explain your treatment options.

The next step is usually non-surgical treatment to eliminate the diseased pulp. The injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleansed and sealed. This therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the treatment required. Success for this type of treatment occurs in about 90% of cases. We will inform you as soon as possible if we determine that your tooth is not suitable for treatment or the prognosis changes. Most patients return to their usual routine after treatment.

Generally, non-surgical treatment is all that is needed to save teeth with an injured pulp. Occasionally, this non-surgical procedure will not be sufficient to allow healing and we will recommend microsurgery. Endodontic microsurgery can be used to locate fractures or hidden canals that do not appear on x-rays but still cause pain. Damaged root surfaces and surrounding bone may also be treated with this procedure. The most common microsurgical procedure used to save damaged teeth is an "apicoectomy" or "root-end resection."

Instructions During Endodontic Therapy

It is possible that your tooth will be sore for 3-7 days. This is due to the previous condition of your tooth and manipulation within the root canal during treatment. There is no cause for alarm since this is a perfectly normal reaction. The prescribed medication is intended to reduce any distress.

The tooth will feel much better if these suggestions are followed: 1) Rinsing with warm salt water solutions will help speed the healing process by stimulation circulation in the area. (One teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water). Repeat the rinsing on the hour while the tooth is uncomfortable. 2) Try not using the tooth for chewing. 3) If slight swelling develops, use the rinses as above. Also apply a cold pack to the outer surface of the face in area treated after each rinse. Keep the cold pack in place ten minutes; then repeat after ten minutes, repeating as necessary.

Discomfort following visits in no way affects the successful outcome of treatment.

It is normal for a thin layer of temporary filling to be worn away and a slight depression is noticeable. Should the temporary filling come out (or if in doubt,) call our office.

Do not eat anything for one hour after leaving the office. Be very careful not to chew on that side, also avoid biting your cheek or tongue until the anesthia has worn off.

After each visit you may experience some tenderness and/or pain in the tooth and affected area. This is the result of manipulation and will show up in the form of discomfort on biting pressure or in a slight swelling of the tissues. This will subside within a couple of days.

In order to reduce tenderness and pain take three 200mg Advil tablets (600 mg ibuprofen) or 2 extra strength Tylenol (1000 mg acetaminophen) every 6 hours, for three days or until pain subsides.

If antibiotics are prescribed please take as advised by the doctor, until completion.

If the discomfort persists, and you notice swelling around the tooth, or tissues, please call our office for further instructions.

After the root canal is complete please return to your general dentist for a permanent restoration.

You will need to visit your restorative dentist for a follow-up restoration. A record of your treatment will be forwarded to their office.

Your restorative dentist will decide what type of restoration is needed to protect your tooth. It is unusual for endodontic patients to experience complications after routine endodontic treatment or microsurgery. If a problem does occur, however, we are available to respond at all times

We will take every measure to ensure that your procedure is in no way uncomfortable or painful. If treatment is needed, we will inject a small amount of anesthesia to gently numb a concentrated area of your mouth. For most patients, the feeling of numbness usually subsides after 2-3 hours.

Yes, for most root canal treatments, we recommend that patients return to the office 1 year after the procedure was finished. Our office will send a reminder notice to you when you are due for a recall appointment.

You endodontist wants you to understand how dental insurance works and how to make it work best for you. You should also understand how the treatment you endodontist provided works with you dental plan.

The contract your employer negotiated with your insurance carrier defines you dental benefits. Please read the benefit or insurance plan booklet provided by your employer so that you better understand your benefits. Various dental planes cover endodontic procedures at different payment levels and, as a result, your payment portion may vary.

This brochure answers frequently asked questions about dental benefits. If you do not find the answers to your questions, contact you plan or benefits administrator who can explain the details. If you see an insurance term with which you are not familiar, please see the Glossary of terms.

1) Why was my benefit different from what I expected?

Your dental benefit may vary for a number of reasons, such as:

   1) You have already used some or all of the benefits available from your dental insurance.

   2) Your insurance plan paid only a percentage of the fee charged by your endodontist.

   3) The treatment you needed was not a covered benefit

   4) You have not yet met your deductible.

   5) You have not reached the end of you plan’s waiting period and are currently ineligible for coverage.

2) Why isn’t the recommended treatment a covered benefit?

Your endodontist diagnoses and provides treatment based on his or her professional judgment and not on the cost of that care. Some employers or insurance planes exclude coverage for necessary treatment as a way to reduce their costs. Your plan may not include this particular treatment or procedure, although your endodontist deemed the treatment necessary.

3) How do in know what my payment portion will be if my insurance does not cover the entire fee?

Your payment portion will vary according to the UCR of your plan, your maximum allowable benefit and other factors. Ultimately, the patient portion is not known until the insurance check has been received by you endodontist.

4. How do I understand my Explanation of Benefits (EOB)?Your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) contains a wealth of information. The EOB identifies the benefits, the amount your insurance carrier is willing to pay and charges that are and are not covered by your plan. The statement includes the following information: UCR, co-payment amount/patient portion, remaining benefits, deductible and benefit paid.

5. How long does it take for a claim to be paid?The time for a dental insurance carrier to process an insurance claim varies. At least 38 states have enacted laws requiring dental insurance carriers to pay claims within a timely period (ranging generally from 15-60 days). If you want to file a complaint about a delayed payment, contact the insurance commissioner in your state. He or she wants to know if your insurance complaint does not pay with in the period allowed by your state law. A link to the names and addresses of commissioners is posted on the American Association of Endodontists’ Web site, www.aae.org.

6. Will my endodontist take my insurance?

Most endodontist fall in one or more categories, and there may more options than are described here. Some endodontists sign contracts with dental insurance carriers and agree to accept or "take" the payment offered by the insurance company as payment in full, even though it may not be the same amount as the endodontist charges for the procedure. These endodontists are Participating Providers in your plan.

Other endodontists do not sign contracts with dental insurance carriers but still accept or "take" insurance company payments. These endodontists are not contractually obligated to accept your insurance carrier’s payment as full compensation and are not Participating Providers. In this instance, you may be responsible for a payment portion over and above the percentage provided by your insurance company.

Still other endodontists are not Participating Providers and do not accept payments directly from your insurance carrier. In this case, your endodontist will ask that you be responsible for the entire fee but will assist you in filing your claim to receive insurance benefits directly from your insurance carrier.

7. What if I still have questions?Your endodontist will do his or her best to answer all of your insurance questions. Please keep in mind that there are many insurance plans available and that you employer chooses you plan and you benefits. If you believe your benefits are inadequate, you may want to discuss the matter with plan administrator and explore appropriate alternatives.

Assignment of benefits Authorization from the patient to the insurance carrier to forward payment directly to the endodontist for covered procedures.

Claim Statement sent to an insurance carrier that lists the treatment performed, the date of that treatment and an itemization of associated costs. It serves as the basis for payment of benefits.

Contract An agreement between your employer and your insurance carrier that typically describes the benefits of you dental plan.

Copayment The part of the fee you owe the endodontist after your insurance carrier has paid its portion

Coverage The benefits available to you under your plan.

Customary fee the fees your insurance carrier will pay for the specific procedure performed as opposed to the actual fees submitted for a specific endodontist procedure to establish the maximum benefit payable for that specific procedure.

Deductible The amount you are responsible to pay before the insurance carrier will allow your benefit plan to pay the endodontist.

EOB Identifies the benefits (the amount your insurance carrier is willing to pay) and charges covered by your plan.

Participating provider An endodontist who signs a contractual agreement with the dental insurance carrier to provide care to eligible members.

Patient portion The dollar amount that you will be responsible for paying if your insurance payment does not cover the entire fee.

Preauthorization A statement from your insurance company indicating whether the required endodontic treatment will be covered under the terms of your plan.

Predetermination An administrative procedure that required your endodontist to submit a treatment plan to your insurance carrier for approval before treatment begins.

UCR* A term used by insurance companies to describe the amount they are willing to pay for a particular endodontic procedure.

*Is the term used by insurance companies to describe the amount they are willing to pay for a particular endodontic procedure. There is no standard fee or accepted method of determining the UCR, and the UCR has no relationship to the fee charged by your endodontist. The administrator of each dental benefit plan determines the fees that the plan will pay, often based on many factors including region of the country, number of procedures performed and cost of living.

Your health is our number one concern. For your safety, we utilize the very latest techniques in sterilization. We are dedicated to always stay on top of the latest sterilization techniques recommended by OSHA. You can be assured that, from the water lines to the instruments used in your treatment, everything is thoroughly sterilized for your safety and protection.

As part of our very strict sterilization policy all instruments, including the handpieces, are heat sterilized in a hospital grade class B steralizer. Whenever possible, we utilize disposable products. In every operatory we use surface disinfectants and plastic barriers to ensure a protected environment. We constantly monitor our practice and procedures regarding infection control. Our sterilizers are biologically monitored every week to ensure proper sterilization procedures by an independent outside testing facility.

During every procedure, we wear protective, disposable barriers such as gloves and masks that are replaced after each patient's treatment. To protect the environment and the public, we regularly have our hazardous waste handled and removed responsibly by a certified bio-hazardous waste removal company.

Our patient's safety, as well as our own, is of extreme importance to us. When you visit our office, you can feel confident that your health is protected to the best of our ability.