Dr. Olga Fonseca, DDS

I was referred to Dr. Fonseca’s office by my primary dentist for a crack in my tooth. When I arrived to the office for a consult, I admired chatting with all of the staff at the front desk. Very friendly and personable!
My experience was with Dr. Davis. Let me just say that I had a very positive experience getting a root canal for the first time. Who has fun at the dentist, the place that takes all of your money to keep your teeth healthy and looking nice? Besides Dr. Davis being a McDreamy (not hard on the eyes at all) was so kind and very humorous. Needless to say, that I was terrified and ended up having a pain free root canal. I didn’t even feel the three needles that I received to numb the area.
I highly recommend Dr. Davis. He explained the process, listened to me whining about the pain I thought I would feel and ended up having to work extra hard on my tooth when he found out I have four canals instead of the normal three. I learned something new about myself today.
I hope I never have to get another root canal again but if by chance I do, I won’t hesitate to call Dr. Davis for a visit. Check him out, you won’t be disappointed :-)

Okay, I went to Olga almost two years ago for a root canal and she did an awesome job. I waited this long to post to see if her work would hold up, and hey, so far so good. Before going to her, I visited 2 other specialists and they both agreed that I should pull tooth. Frustrated and hopeless I went to Olga for 3^rd and final opinion. She, however, did not agree. She was professional, informative, patient, sincere, caring, and best of all she saved my tooth! If you require a root canal I highly recommend the talented Dr. Fonseca.

Hmmm… is it weird to say I had a good time getting a root canal?! Olga and her assistant were AMAZING. I use to go to a dentist who was super aggressive, so much so, that I had to tell her. Then, see someone else in her practice for her to understand and be gentler with me the next time we met.
Needless to say I was terrified.
What a COMPLETE 180 this experience was! Olga was sooooooo gentle and had great bed side manner. I had on mala beads, so she decided to share a picture of her trip to the Grand Canyon where she took a picture of a monk with similar beads. I felt so at ease! I wanted to hug her after the root canal but opted not to because I thought it’d be weird especially after someone stuck needles in your gums!
Olga you’re great! (Air hug)

This was my first root canal and Dr Fonseca was very attentive. She made sure I was comfortable at every step. The people in the office were welcoming and handled all of my insurance for me.

I went here for a root canal and she is not only the real deal, but she has a sense of humor.
I tried lying to her that I floss regularly and don’t know why I needed a root canal and she called me on my Bs and gave me a serious but funny life talk on how having good teeth just opens doors for so many things — future wife, great jobs, etc… She also really cares about getting to know you and doesn’t just drill the crap out of your mouth and say Alright done.
Dr. Fonesca really shows that she cares about her patients teeth! I was continually reminded about my appointment and she even reminded me to keep flossing!!! The front desk staff and her assistants were super nice and even remembered after my 6 month follow up. She also made sure I was referred to a proper dentist for my crown. She really really cares like you are her own child. Well she is a mother after all, but still, she and her office are just hands down amazing!!!

Dr. Fonseca was recommended to me by my primary dentist. I was experiencing significant tooth pain in a molar I had previously filled for a cavity about a year prior. My dentist suspected I had devolved a crack under the filling and sent me to Dr. Fonseca for a root canal evaluation. She was very lovely and made the consultation process quick and easy. Her staff even worked me into an earlier appointment because I was experiencing pain.
Dr. Fonseca recommended I move forward with the root canal and a week later I was back in her chair. I had one root canal prior, so I was familiar wit the procedure but again I found her and her staff to be very calming and friendly. She did not over numb my mouth like other dentists have done, but I didn’t feel a thing during the surgery. Honestly the worst part was the x-​rays (I have a very small mouth) and the smell. I will never get used to the smell of dental procedures.
In less than an hour I was on my way home and back in bed before 9:30am. I hope I will not need another root canal in the foreseeable future, but if I do, I will certainly utilize Dr. Fonseca.

This is a little overdue. I had a root canal done by Dr. Fonseca in October. She was amazing. Polite and professional. It had been nearly 4 years without dental insurance after losing my job in the great recession. I had unfortunately needed a root canal. Mr. primary dentist, Dr. Marie Kay gave me a list of specialists and I first went to one in Bethesda. That dentist kept me waiting and was worried about money/​insurance. Dr. Fonseca was so good. I was scared and nervous and she made me comfortable. I even had my root canal done at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday BEFORE work — but I survived and there was no pain at all. It’s comforting to know that If I have a major dental need, she and her staff will take care of me. btw, her staff was professional and very easy to deal with. And truly finally… I went in without an appointment for a consultation and she fit me in immediately and checked out what was going on and what my needs were.

Dr. Fonseca is the best dentist – and possibly the best Dr. — I have ever worked with. I had a complicated procedure done to fix an infection in an old root canal. My infection came back when I was pregnant a few months later. Dr. Fonseca treated me with great care and provided free care to make sure the infection was gone.
She has a lovely bedside manner and is truly a gift to her patients.

Just had my first root canal and if it had to happen, I cannot imagine it having gone any better! Dr. Fonseca and her staff were thorough, thoughtful, kind, and really patient. I had several questions and Dr. Fonseca took her time to make sure the procedure was really needed, taking several x-​rays and examining me carefully, asking many questions. She really put the decision into my hands, which I appreciate!
While the root canal took a while, she explained it all too me. I didn’t feel a thing and nearly fell asleep in the chair (hard to believe!!). She let me listen to music/​radio through headphones and I felt as comfortable as can be expected. It is clear that she cares about all of her staff from the way they interact. She was very kind to her colleagues and to the patients
I recommend Dr. Fonseca without reservation!

I hate going to the dentist. Turns out I needed a root canal. My regular dentist at Modern Dentristy, who I have great regard for, saw that I have «unusual» canals and that I needed to see a RCT specialist; he sent me to Dr. Olga Fonseca.
I’m not a good patient, but she took great care of me. I was pleased that it was a painFREE procedure.

So after putting off going to the dentist for way too long, I went and found out I needed a root canal. The look on other people’s faces when I told him instilled such a fear into me that I spent hours researching online for alternatives — including just having the tooth pulled because it seems that could be less painful!
Needless to say, I was terrified when I went into Dr. Fonseca’s office for my root canal. I think I was literally shaking a bit when filling out all the forms.
Well, I am amazed and stunned and how painless this procedure was. They took a few x-​rays and examined the tooth, chatting with me along the way. I was numbed first with cotton swabs and then a few minutes later received the injection which I did not feel. I received a second injection which I barely felt and a few minutes later they tested me to see if I was numb which I was.
The procedure took about an hour, with a few stops for additional x-​rays and the hardest part of keeping my mouth open for an hour (insert jokes here). I feel only some pressure now and then, there was some noise from the equipment, but it was completely tolerable.
Afterward they gave me an ibuprofen and sent me on my way. I was numb for a bout 2.5 hours after the procedure and had no real residual pain. I did not need any more ibuprofen during the day. My jaw is a bit achy and the gum area where I got the injection is slightly sore, but it is nothing I can’t handle and don’t really even need any pain killers for it at all.
The most painful part was the bill ($$$$) but that is not their fault, it is my crappy dental insurance. However, the bill is enough incentive to never come back! :)
PS — I want to put a note in here about people who complain about the office staff. They were friendly to me but not warm, and were perfectly nice — no complaints. However, when I was preparing to leave a woman had come in (she didn’t appear to be rushed or anything) and I heard the receptionist indicate that because she was nearly 30 minutes late for her appointment, they were not sure they could guarantee her appt for today, but would do what they could to accommodate her. She immediately got snippy and tried to blame them for the lack of information about where to park and told them that they should have told her about the parking situation when she made her appt. I understand she was likely in pain and frustrated, but patients also need to take some responsibility — if you are driving, ask about parking and don’t take it out on the office staff who have no control over appt issues!

Everything everyone else says on here was my experience. If you have to have a root canal, Dr. Fonseca and her crew make it remarkably easy and painless, and are great about providing info upfront about costs, the procedure, and other helpful and preventative tips.

I was sent to Dr. Fonseca by Dr. Milliron (another great dentist). If you are coming here for a root canal, or something simliar, which I’m suspecting all of us reviewing here are, Dr. Fonseca and her assistant (s) make it as pleasant as possible. She was attentive to if I was in pain (which I was not) and the root canal process went smoothly. I had to come back a week later or so for her to finish the job, and she explained to me why exactly I was coming back and why it couldn’t be done all in one sitting. Her office is also located in a convenient spot, near Dupont Circle.
I am docking a star not because of her, but because of the front desk. They are polite and helpful, but on my first visit I waited an hour past my initial appointment time before I got in to see her. When I inquired what was going on, they finally explained to me that she was doing another procedure and was running past the scheduled time. I understand that this can happen, but you should at least let me know what’s going on instead of me having to come up and ask what’s going on. I believe you should also do your best to honor the appointment time; what’s the point of making an appointment then? To her credit, she apologized for the delay. And also to the front desk’s credit, I was treated promptly at my scheduled time at my next appointment the following week. Perhaps 4.5 stars would be a better rating; unfortunately, I can’t give half-​star ratings on Unilocal

I had a fun time getting a root canal today.
Never in my life would I have even thought I could say those words, let alone be telling the truth when I said them. Strange as it is though, I did indeed have a good time.
I had many complications with my root canal, and Dr. Fonseca described them to me while telling me what they meant and how she was going to go about fixing them. Her assistant Claudia was absolutely amazing, and the pair them worked together like a well oiled machine — they barely had to look at each other when passing back and forth the instruments. It was basically pain free. Even the receptionists were welcoming, funny, and accommodating. As sick as this is, I’m actually looking forward to my next scheduled root canal in a few weeks.
I’m not masochistic, I just really liked this office!

Outstanding. Virtually pain-​free. Excellent patient care.

Update:
While my experience in the office was great, I cannot recommend them unless you get some very specific guidance up front on costs. I was told by the dentist and the front desk and Dr. Fonseca’s office that this quick referral would be fully covered by my dental insurance, and that it would not cost me anything. Fast forward two months and my first bill for $ 85 arrives in the mail. I called and explained the situation, and I was told «we would never tell you it was free. That’s ridiculous.» and told that I need to pay now. I explained the situation again, and that I had no intention of paying after the fact. I have received a «bill» or a phone call every 6 – 8 months since, and despite repeatedly explaining the circumstances have gotten nowhere. DO NOT receive services without getting all charges cleared in advance.
Original Review:
I second every «WOW» that other reviewers have exclaimed. I entered this morning at 8:30am expecting to have two root canals. The back story is that I had a terrible dentist last year that insisted I get the root canals immediately while getting a routine cleaning, and who also told me I had two cavities. Having never had any cavities nor any tooth pain, I was doubtful. They also pressured me very hard to get it done.
So, I sought out a new dentist and ended up with Dr. Stephen Barsky (who also is a 5 star rating). Dr. Barsky told me I had no cavities, but suspected I might need the root canals. He was unclear, though, and asked me to visit Dr. Olga Fonseca as she is a «fantastic peridontist.»
So today, I entered the office thinking root canals were likely. Everyone from the front desk to the attendant were just lovely, and Dr. Fonseca was even better. She smilingly walked me through 3 tests to check my teeth, and then told me concisely and clearly that not only did I NOT need root canals, but that I likely would never need them on those teeth. She smiled and sent me on my way.
It is just amazing to have worked with TWO dentists who put patient care ahead of billable procedures, and who are nice as can be to boot.
I strongly recommend her.

They are still billing me even though I paid. I asked for what it would cost up front but they failed to tell me that I would have to pay extra for other procedures not covered by insurance.
*sigh*

I will start this review by saying that my experiences were with Dr. Brian Davis, who works in Dr. Fonseca’s office.
I was referred to Dr. Davis after my dentist told me that I needed a root canal. Of course this is never good news, but I figured that I might as well just get it over with, so I made an appointment right away. Their office is located right off Dupont Circle, so it’s a short 15 minute walk from my office.
I know this next section may come off as gushing, but Dr. Davis is pretty dreamy! It’s rare to come across a good looking professional in the health care field, so when you do, it’s a treat! Not only is Dr. Davis dreamy, but he’s also very kind. He is kind of no-​nonsense, but not in a mean way. In internet slang I’d describe him as srs bzness.
Unfortunately the root canal did not go as planned, but this was not due to a lack of expertise on Dr. Davis’ part. The tooth that was being worked on was in a delicate spot with a huge nerve cluster. I will spare the gory details, but suffice to say that it took several tries to get me properly numb and I was very sore after being worked on. Dr. Davis explained what was happening and thankfully prescribed me two drugs to help me with any discomfort.
I highly recommend Dr. Davis and the staff at this office. They are all very friendly and understand that your time is valuable, so your time in the waiting room will be minimal.

While I don’t enjoy having an old root canal retreated, Dr. Fonseca made the whole process as painless as possible.
For starters, the front desk staff is friendly and *gasp* accommodating. I especially liked being able to get an early 8 am appointment, so my whole day wasn’t wasted.
Dr. Fonseca is very thorough in her diagnosis and goes for the most sensible and not necessarily most costly treatment. She will explain the procedure (s) with just enough detail to make you feel comfortable but not overwhelmed or completely grossed out.
If you need any sort of endodontic work, I would highly recommend this practice group. The office is also metro accessible… between dupont and farragut north stops.

Dr. Michelle Loewinger recommended Dr. Fonseca to complete a root canal. I’d never had a root canal before, and as I mentioned in my review of Dr. Loewinger (who is amazing too, by the way) I’m beyond rationally terrified of dentists and their colleagues.
Dr. Fonseca was so incredibly gentle and kind — I never even felt the first novocaine shot, and didn’t feel a thing during the entire procedure.
As much as I hope I never have to go back to her, if I ever require any other endodontic care, I will certainly go back to Dr. Fonseca.