Since finding out I needed a root canal, I have been the recipient of a number of sympathetic responses ("Oh no!" "That sucks") combined with facial expressions ranging from sheer terror to the sort of look you only see on people's faces during funerals. By the time I made my way to Dr. Fathi's office on a recommendation from my DDS, I was quite literally sweating buckets and mentally preparing myself for "The Worst." Honestly, I needn't have worried at all.
1 - Dr. Fathi greeted me when I walked into her tastefully-appointed waiting room. She is very chatty, warm, and the sort of person you immediately take a liking to (unless you are one of those prickly sorts who prefers all human contact be left to a bare minimum at all times). She has a wide smile and a great sense of humor and it was obvious to me this was not the behavior of someone who spends a large portion of her time torturing patients.
2 - The front desk and support staff were incredibly friendly without being neglectful of their regular duties. And they all genuinely seemed to like each other which, let's face it, isn't always the case in some doctor's offices.
3 - The consultation was thorough and included some additional x-rays, questions, and a lot of non-dental related chit chat (which I always appreciate). By the time it was done, I had a comprehensive understanding of what needed to happen and how the procedure worked. The billing was explained to me in detail and aside from the shock that comes with knowing how much a root canal costs, nothing about the payment process seemed unreasonable or shady.
4 - Fast forward to one week later. I showed up for my 8:45 AM root canal appointment and was immediately welcomed, offered water, asked if I needed to use the restroom, and then brought back into the treatment room. Dr. Fathi's assistant set me up and within five minutes, Dr. Fathi was there prepping the needle. There was quite literally NO pain whatsoever with the injections aside from the very slightest poke when she injected the roof of my mouth. Once I was numbed up, the procedure began. The worst part of the whole experience was having to use the bite guard they'd inserted into the left side of my mouth to keep my mouth open while Dr. Fathi did her magic. But aside from that, there was ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN or discomfort before, during, after the procedure. It was over faster than I thought it would be. They asked if I might want a Rx for pain meds. I decided not to bother and I'm glad I didn't because I wouldn't have needed them in the end. Once the numbness wore off, I only had the slightest tenderness in my right jaw and that was it.
All in all, this was quite literally one of the best dental-related experiences I have ever had. I have no qualms whatsoever about going back to Dr. Fathi for future work. And I highly recommend her for anyone who feels nervous about root canals or for those who simply want to have the best possible experience. read more