My normal dentist referred me to Dr. Shoemaker for a root canal after a hellish week of pain and misdiagnosing in which I broke a wisdom tooth and was having intense cryptic pain from a nearby decay-free tooth. Dr. Shoemaker was able to fit me in within 2 hours of the call. His practice is located in a beautiful brick building with a fountain outside and luxurious furnishings inside with oversized gold and tapestry-cushioned chairs. I was initially worried about the cost because the paperwork they gave me said they were out-of-network for all dental insurance, and that my insurance would likely not cover it. Nope, my insurance (Delta Dental) covered almost all of the cost! Literally every single person I encountered in this building, from the receptionists to the dental hygienists to Dr. Shoemaker himself, was SO nice and understanding and helpful. After a recent experience where a dental hygienist criticized my inability to control my gag reflex, this was like a welcome breath of fresh air. They thoroughly explained all the procedures to me and why they were doing each one, which was very reassuring. Dr. Shoemaker was able to diagnose the problem nearly instantaneously and also caught a second abscessed tooth that my dentist had overlooked, which Dr. Shoemaker treated at no additional cost. I have had a root canal one other time, and it was a terrible experience that resulted in me leaving the office sobbing. The root canal with Dr. Shoemaker was easily the best dental experience for any procedure that I have ever had in my life. They went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable throughout the entire procedure, and I had absolutely no problems with breathing, gagging, or swallowing. Dr. Shoemaker told me to raise my hand if I felt anything, but I never actually needed to because he literally could tell by the change in my eyes when something hurt and automatically numbed the spot more. He is, hands down, the most skilled, knowledgeable, and competent dentist I have ever encountered. His dental assistant and especially he himself have an incredibly soothing bedside manner that kept me calm throughout what is typically a very nerve-wracking procedure. The only down side is that they only do root canals rather than cleanings, fillings, etc., so I can't go to him every time I need to go to the dentist. But if you are in the unfortunate position of needing a root canal, I cannot recommend this man more highly. read more