Q: Are there any plans to modify/alter/change/fix/help the I-285 west exit onto Ga. 400 and the entrance ramp to 400? The interchange is one of the worst in the city and only continues to worsen. — Bl

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Q: Are there any plans to modify/alter/change/fix/help the I-285 west exit onto Ga. 400 and the entrance ramp to 400? The interchange is one of the worst in the city and only continues to worsen. — Blair Craig, Atlanta

A: The Georgia Department of Transportation plans to present several alternatives for modifications to the Ga. 400/I-285 interchange during public meetings in late October and early November. The likely cost is in the hundreds of millions of dollars, said DOT spokeswoman Crystal Paulk-Buchanan. If funding is available, right-of-way acquisition could begin in 2013, at the earliest, followed by construction. She said the department is considering how improvements can be phased in to provide some relief.

Q: After the hygienist cleans my teeth, I pay an additional $40 for a two-minute examination by the dentist. I’m told this is the law. Is this true? — Arnold Simon, Atlanta

A: Georgia dentists are legally required to examine patients after the hygienist completes a cleaning, according to a Georgia Board of Dentistry rule created in 1965. “It’s not checking the hygienists’ work,” said Martha S. Phillips, executive director of the Georgia Dental Association. “It’s performing an examination of the patient.” The cost varies by dentist. The American Dental Association reports that this practice is required by law in nearly every state where a dentist is involved in the treatment of the patient.

Lori Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or e-mail q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).