In most cases, Endodontic therapy is a painless and predicatable proceedure. There are some situations that may adversely affect the efficacy of local anesthetics. If you have had dificulty in the past getting numb, please let us know. We will take every measure to ensure that your procedure is in no way uncomfortable or painful. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is also available on request. In certain situations, the Doctor may prescribe a mild tranquilizer prior to the initiation of treatment.

We will typicically call in 6 months to schedule a follow up visit. It is preferred that patients return to this office for re-evaluation within six months to one year. There is never a charge for this re-evaluation.

There are many situations that do not require Endodontic (root canal) therapy or where this may be one of several options.  For these reasons, we typically request that a consultation visit be scheduled in order that your relevant medical and dental history be reviewed and that your unique situation be considered in recommending appropriate treatment options. Exceptions are always made for emergency situations. If you are experiencing severe discomfort, please let us know immediately.

A consultation is the beginning process of every procedure. A clinical and radiographic examination (x-rays) is performed to determine if endodontic therapy is necessary, if there are special treatment considerations and if the tooth is restorable by your general dentist after the treatment is completed. Radiographs are displayed on patient monitors to explain each specific recommended treatment plan. Radiograph drawings are created to achieve clear communication about the patients individual case. All images created during the initial consultation are stored in the patients digital chart for future reference.

Dr. Slosberg will be happy to answer any of your questions, at this time, about the cause of your endodontic problem, the treatment sequence and the course of healing. Endodontic treatment often can be completed in one visit; however, some cases may require up to three or more separate appointments to complete the treatment.

It is normally recommended that patients return to work the same day following treatment. Patients often experience some discomfort for three to five days following root canal therapy, especially when chewing. Cleaning diseased tissue from the canals may cause inflammation of the surrounding ligament and bone. Soreness may take additional time to go away if your tooth caused you discomfort prior to treatment. Certain medical conditions and medications will affect your post operative healing process. Please be thorough and complete when filling out our medical and pain history.

You can help minimize the side effects by following these suggestions:

1. For the first few days please avoid biting or chewing hard substances with the tooth such as nuts, popcorn, etc.

2. To relieve pain, use an anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen if you are able to take products containing Ibuprofen.

3. If you received an antibiotic, in addition to the prescribed pain medicine, then your tooth was infected. When treating an infected tooth, the source of the infection is removed, however the residual infection remains in the tooth. The antibiotic is prescribed to treat this residual infection.

4. There is no longer a nerve in the tooth to detect thermal discomfort. The ligament attached to the tooth, however, is still very much alive. This is the source, where most of you discomfort will be resulting from after treatment.

5. Apply ice/cold compact to the outside of your face is swelling occurs. No heat! Dr. Slosberg recommends using a bag of frozen peas.

6. The temporary filling Dr. Slosberg has placed in your tooth will only last (4) weeks. It is very important that you schedule an appointment with you general practitioner within this time frame to avoid root canal failure.

Yes! You will be able to play the guitar just as well after the root canal, as you could prior to the procedure. There is; however, one thing, you may not play the guitar with your teeth!  Seriously, after the procedure the tooth will be weak; weaker than before the procedure. For this reason, your Dentist may elect to place a full coverage restoration, with or with out a post. There are also occasions, when a full coverage restoration may not be in the patient's best interest. The ultimate final restoration will be determined by your Dentist or Dental Specialist, but we will provide recommendations. Regardless of the type of restoration, this tooth will never be as strong as a natural tooth, and as such, a little bit of caution goes a long way, so please, don't play your guitar with your teeth.

The cost of treatment varies with the complexity of the tooth. For example re-treating a tooth that has already had a root canal, is inherently more complicated than a tooth which has not been treated previously. The cost associated with treatment includes all the associated costs with running any small business, for example, rent, salaries, health insurance, supplies, govenment regulations, lawyers to help understand government regulations etc. At Atlanta Endodontics, no expense is spared in procuring the finest equipment and most up to date training imaginable. Once treatment has been completed, there is never any additional charges for recalls or re-evaluations.

If the cumulative cost of your dental treatment is not financially feasible, please consult with our front office. They can familiarize you with options to help finance the cost of your dental care.

Yes. While we do not offer IV sedation in this office, N2O is available by request. If you feel additional sedation is neccessary, oral anxiolytics can be perscribed in certain situations. Please discuss your concerns with the Doctor or any team member.

Endodontic therapy, for the most part, is a painless and predicable procedure, assuming certain biological principles are adhered to. First the entire canal system must be cleaned and sealed. Following treatment, the tooth must be properly restored in order to keep bacteria out, and to protect the structural integrity of the tooth. If the tooth, is not properly restored, bacteria can leak back into the tooth and it can become reinfected. A video addressing this very issue is coming soon to youTube.

Radiographs or X-rays emailed from your referring office are always appreciated. We will import these images, as well as any saved screen shots from a CT or cone beam scan. New radiographs are required medico-legally, in order to make a proper diagnosis.  There is no additional cost for radiographs pertaining to one specific area of interest.  Additional radiographs for separate areas of interest are billed accordingly.

Regarding CT or cone beam scans, please keep in mind that you are paying us to read and review your scan. There is also a large disparity between the type of machine used, the skill of the operator taking the scan, and the quality of the images.  Additionally, at Atlanta Endodontics, we cannot take the risk of contaminating our database by installing a new software viewer in order to manipulate and read a scan that is brought to us. If your Dentist, or referring specialist wishes to save a screen shot of a particular area of interest, and email it to info@atlendo.com, we will be happy to look at that;  however, in most cases, a new scan will be desired, in order to make a proper diagnosis of your tooth. There will be a charge for all scans taken or read in this office, unless otherwise specified.

At Atlanta Endodontics, our focus is on your care and your care alone. Our experience has been that negotiating with insurance carriers about appropriate specialty care almost always compromises the quality of care we are committed to provide.  “In-Network” specialists not only agree to a reduced fee schedule with the hopes of becoming ever-busier, but they also allow insurance companies to dictate treatment that frequently is not in the patient’s best interests. These arrangements between specialist care-givers and insurance companies destroy the doctor-patient relationship, subvert the trust that is essential in that relationship, and ultimately result in treatment outcomes that jeopardize long-term patient health. For us, this is simply intolerable. For this reason, we do not participate with any insurance carrier and will not negotiate your care with them.

 For our patients that have dental coverage, for your convenience, we will be happy to submit a dental insurance form for you with the proper codes listed for your direct reimbursement.