What should I bring with me?
1. Usually your dentist will give you a 'referral slip' which is a printed piece of paper with information for us. Often a radiograph is attached.
2. Insurance card / information of subscriber
3. iPod or music player and earphones
Where can I park?
There is parking within the bulding and the garage entry is from Sutter Street. Also, one block away is the city-owned Sutter-Stockton garage which is less expensive. There are two entries - one off Bush Street and the other off Stockton Street (only by taking a right onto Stockton St. from Sutter St.)
How can I get to your office via public transport?
The Muni bus service runs services right on Sutter St., stopping outside the building via the #2, 3, 4, 30 and 45.
The closest BART stations are Powell Street and Montgomery Street.
Will the treatment be painful?
We will take every measure to ensure that your procedure is in no way uncomfortable or painful. If anything even starts to feel uncomfortable, just let us know; we have plenty of anesthesia! For most patients, the feeling of numbness usually subsides after 2-3 hours.
How do I look after the tooth once the root canal treatment is finished?
It is normal for you to experience some degree of discomfort for a few days even if you were not prior to treatment. This tenderness is due to manipulation of tissues beyond the tooth during treatment and also from the condition of the tooth when you came to the office.
To alleviate discomfort, please take 600mg of Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) along with 1-2 tablets of Extra Strength Tylenol before the anesthesia wears off and then every 4-6 hours for the rest of the day of treatment. If symptoms are minor by the next day, Ibuprofen alone may be used (600mg every 4-6 hours) until they subside (usually 3-7 days).
Please do not chew on the tooth if it does not have a crown. We will expain whether this pertains to you when you are here but there is an increased risk that the tooth can crack. Usually, a crown will be required to protect the tooth.
Please avoid alcohol and heavy exercise for the rest of the day.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't feel bashful about contacting us immediately. If after hours, the telephone number is recorded on our answering machine.
Will I need to return to your office?
Yes, for most root canal treatments, we recommend that patients return to the office one year after the procedure was finished. This allows us to make sure the tooth has healed or is healing properly. An infection can persist without causing any symptoms. You will receive a reminder call one week prior to your appoinment. Please note that there will be no charges for these recall appointments.
Useful Information from the American Dental Association and American Association of Endodontists