FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
TOP QUESTIONS WE HEAR FROM OUR PATIENTS
Why should I choose Westside Endodontics for treatment?
At Westside Endodontics we understand dental treatment can seem daunting, we take your dental health and comfort seriously, which is why we offer ceiling TV’s, blue tooth headphones, blankets, and supportive memory foam pillows for your neck and under your knees to support your lower back. We believe TLC is important during root canal treatment. After all, root canals are not something most people look forward to. You may as well be comfortable and warm while having treatment performed to save your teeth. Being distracted by your favorite show on Netflix doesn’t hurt either.
Where does your fee guide come from?
The fee guide at Westside Endodontics is based on the costs of providing treatment (doctors' time, dental supplies, staffing costs, rent, business taxes, etc.) to our patients. We do not follow the Alberta Fee Guide as it is not always representative of the costs to cover treatment and run a small business in Alberta. We always provide a written estimate prior to treatment so that you know what you are paying for and we are always happy to discuss our fees with you.
What is the difference between having Root Canal Treatment with a General Dentist vs an Endodontist?
All general dentists are trained to perform basic root canal procedures. Endodontists are general dentists that have gone to dental school and then have returned to a specialty school for an additional 2-3 years to learn how to perform Root Canals with greater complexity, to perform Root Canal Retreatments and Root Surgery using a ceiling-mounted microscope and a CBCT (three-dimensional x-ray which show greater detail than a regular 2-D x-ray).
What is a CBCT and how does it benefit my treatment?
CBCT stands for Cone Beam Computed Tomography, where the scanner rotates around the patient’s head, obtaining up to nearly 600 images to create a volumetric data set. The scanning software collects the data and reconstructs it, producing what is termed a digital volume that can then be manipulated and visualized with specialized software. This allows Endodontists to see more clearly what the issues are within your tooth and to see how tooth infection is affecting the surrounding bone. Often these issues are not visible on regular X-rays. CBCT has been described as the gold standard for imaging the oral and maxillofacial area.
How long has Dr. Davis been working and where did she go to University?
Dr. Davis is an Endodontist with over 20 years of experience as a dental provider. She graduated from Dental School at the University of Saskatchewan in 1995. She then practiced general dentistry for 15 years before returning to take her Masters in Craniofacial Science specializing in Endodontics from 2010-2013 at UBC. She has been working as an Endodontist in Calgary since that time and she started Westside Endodontics in 2015. Dr. Davis enjoys the challenge of being an Endodontist and a business owner.
How do you work with my insurance provider?
The full fee is due the day service is rendered. However, our administrative staff will submit electronic predeterminations and claims to your insurance carrier for you. After we have provided you with a treatment estimate, we will electronically send in the estimate to your insurance provider, so you know (before treatment) how much your insurance will cover. Once treatment is completed, you pay for services rendered and we then send the paid invoice to your insurance provider so they can reimburse you. It generally only takes 48 hours to receive reimbursement. We accept Visa, Debit, and Mastercard.
Regular 2-D radiograph
Sagittal CBCT slice of the same teeth which shows a very large lesion* which is hard to see on the 2-D radiograph.
Are all Root Canal Treatments or Surgery successful?
Research has shown Root Canal Treatment and Surgery to be about 85% successful. This is based on many factors (such as how heavily restored the tooth is and if there is a large post in the tooth). We will go over the prognosis of treatment for you and will discuss alternative options. We always tell you the prognosis for treatment (the likelihood of success) and give you some further recommendations of how we will handle any challenges with treatment that may arise.
What are the benefits of saving natural teeth vs implants?
Implants are a terrific option if you cannot save your natural teeth, but implants can also have complications. Some things to consider:
a) The tissue attachment around implants is weaker and implants are therefore more susceptible to tissue breakdown which can result in peri-implantitis (infection around an implant) or implant failure (loosening of the implant itself and eventual loss).
b) There is less blood flow around an implant so if peri-implantitis occurs around an implant, the tissue healing after treatment is slower and less predictable than around a natural tooth.
c) Implants do not have periodontal ligaments (which natural teeth have) to act as a shock absorber, transferring biting loads to the bone. As a result, implants are more likely to have mechanical complications such as screw loosening, fracture, and bone necrosis—when excessive biting pressure is applied (grinding, chewing ice, etc).
Where are you located and is parking free?
We are located two blocks south of Chinook Centre on the Eastside, across the street from Big 4 Motors in a storefront plaza next to Dollarama. We have FREE patient parking, located on the ground level, and are we are wheelchair accessible.
What are the staff like at Westside Endodontics?
The doctors at Westside Endodontics are caring, relatable and will take the time to provide each patient with treatment recommendations best suited for their care. At Westside Endodontics we believe that every patient deserves to be provided with ideal treatment options suited specifically for them and not only the options their insurance carrier provides. We do our best to work with your concerns (financial, emotional, and physical). As a team, we work together to make sure you leave our office feeling understood, cared for, and comfortable.
What measures do you have in place to keep me safe from the virus COVID-19?
We are following the strict COVID-19 protocols set out by the Alberta Dental Association (ADA). Every patient is asked screening questions prior to scheduling an appointment, sanitizes their hands upon entry (wearing a mask) and their temperature is taken. We have limited entry to patients only (one parent of a minor child is allowed) so that we can limit the number of people in the waiting room (where seating is 6 feet apart); the coffee and drink bar are not available at this time.
We have installed plexiglass partitions at the front desk and the staff sanitizes the surfaces touched by each patient in the reception and treatment areas, as well as the washrooms. Likewise, all staff enter from the back of the clinic and have their temperature taken and recorded each day. All staff members wear masks. Frequent hand sanitizing is also performed by all staff members and doctors.
During treatment, patients must rinse with a bacteria-reducing mouth rinse prior to treatment and the doctors and assistants wear surgical gowns, face shields, masks, and caps during treatment as required by the Alberta Dental Association.
As usual, we adhere to strict hospital-grade sterilization protocol. We sterilize all our tools in numbered sterilization bags. The number on each bag used is recorded in each patient’s chart. All our water lines are shocked daily to make sure you are safe. All touched surfaces are wiped and cleaned with hospital grade surface disinfectant wipes.
