What to Expect
This page will walk you through the steps you might encounter when you seek care in our office. Please don't hesitate to call us if you have any additional questions.
Reception
To prepare for your appointment, you may need to first talk to our friendly receptionist. It will be helpful to have the following information when you call.
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Referral form from your general dentist
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Your insurance information
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Your contact information and calendar
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When an appointment is scheduled, you will receive an email with instructions about how to fill out the required forms online before your appointment.
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You will receive a confirmation call before your appointment. Please note that we require 24-hour cancellation notice.
EXam and consultation
Preliminary X-ray will be taken even if you have recent X-ray taken of the same area. We often try to obtain X-ray through certain angles and capture recent changes to the structures of the concerned area.
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Dr. Tang will perform a clinical exam and explain the findings. Your options will be discussed with the pros and cons. Questions are always encouraged.
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If no endodontic treatment is recommended or scheduled, a consultation report will be sent to your referral dentist so they will be informed of our assessment, discussion of treatment options, our recommendations and your decision, etc.
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For patients with significant dental anxiety, we will discuss additional methods to managing anxiety, such as nitrous oxide and anxiety-reducing medication.
CBCT in selected cases
CBCT limits radiation exposure to a small selected area of the mouth and provides detailed 3-D images for the structures including bone, tooth and root canal system. CBCT images are found to be more powerful in detecting bone defect around the root tips of the teeth.
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Sometimes your general dentist may request CBCT scan for reasons other than root canal treatments. In some cases we recommend CBCT scan in selected cases when there is a benefit to obtain additional information with this modern technology. All our surgical cases will need CBCT scan for pre-surgical planning, which is now considered as standard of care.
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Rarely CBCT scan could be recommended after the treatment is initiated. This is often due to unforeseen findings during the treatment, such as unexpected calcification, difficulty in locating canals or separated instruments.
Endodontic treatment
Whether you are receiving root canal treatment/retreatment or apical surgery, we understand this is a nerve-racking experience at the best. We will make sure the area is numbed before we initiate the treatment.
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You will be asked to raise your hand immediately when you have any concern during the treatment. We will try our best to make it a pleasant process and respect your feelings and emotions you could experience in this unique setting.
After treatment
You will have a sense of accomplishment or relief after the treatment is finished. We will show you the X-ray images before and after the treatment, then we will go over the home care instructions. Clinical notes and relevant images will be sent to your general dentist. You are welcome to ask any questions, and your feedback is always appreciated.