WheatenLover
Well-known Member
- Location
- Georgia
I went to Dentist #1 (D1, general dentist) and he said I had an abscessed tooth and that antibiotics would do nothing, even in concert with having the tooth pulled. He told me to see an oral surgeon, and then another dental specialist for the deep cleaning. Then come back to see him for a regular cleaning. I will not be seeing him again because he didn't know that antibiotics are very helpful -- should be common knowledge. Plus he gives me the creeps. He talks in that soothing voice some preachers use when they talk to women.
I went to the ER a day and a half later, when the abscess extended into the right side of my face. D1 said that would be an emergency and to go to ER if that happened. I got antibiotics at the ER and they helped significantly within about 2 days.
Dentist #2 (D2, oral surgeon and PhD microbiologist) pulled the tooth, continued the antibiotics for 10 days, and prescribed a special mouthwash. I followed his instructions. He also said to get a deep cleaning.
On the hunt for D3 (deep cleaner), I found a practice that does laser deep cleaning, researched it, and found that the method works better than the manual method. Of course, the office manager and I did not see eye to eye on a few points. She kept telling me that the practice was not responsible for what was on their website. Of course they are! The practice gets good reviews, so I'm not worried about that. But now I am in the doghouse. If I want to see the dentist, then the gatekeeper/manager says I have to call in the mornings to see if there is an opening that day. No making an appointment in advance! This is ludicrous.
Still looking for D3, I cannot find another practice nearby that uses laser treatment. So I make an appointment with a D3 that is only 5 miles from my house. And that is when the trouble starts.
(1) There are two tiny places on the front of two teeth where this tiny bit of white covering came off. The largest one is less than 1/4" long and much less wide. The smaller one is the size of two periods on a page. D3 says that 2 fillings fell out. Okay. The charge for fixing this will be $503.00. I think that is highway robbery.
(2) The services rendered ($423) are:
Comprehensive Oral Evaluation $107
X-rays $151 (there were at least 30 x-rays taken, yet the x-rays cost 1/2 of what they did at D-1.)
Periodontal Maintenance $165 (this was a regular teeth cleaning)
The hygienist did all the work. The dentist spent a minute looking at the 2 places on my teeth that need fixing. Dentist stated twice that I do not need a deep cleaning.
So now I am thinking that I will try calling the laser practice (D4), find out what their prices are, and just call them for up to 2 weeks to see if I can get an appointment with them, and ditch D3. I am sure I need a deep cleaning because D1 did that thing where they measure pocket depth and I know a bit about that.
Other choice is to go to Pittsburgh metro and use my former dentist for at least the 2 fillings, which would be at most $200.
Please give me advice!
I went to the ER a day and a half later, when the abscess extended into the right side of my face. D1 said that would be an emergency and to go to ER if that happened. I got antibiotics at the ER and they helped significantly within about 2 days.
Dentist #2 (D2, oral surgeon and PhD microbiologist) pulled the tooth, continued the antibiotics for 10 days, and prescribed a special mouthwash. I followed his instructions. He also said to get a deep cleaning.
On the hunt for D3 (deep cleaner), I found a practice that does laser deep cleaning, researched it, and found that the method works better than the manual method. Of course, the office manager and I did not see eye to eye on a few points. She kept telling me that the practice was not responsible for what was on their website. Of course they are! The practice gets good reviews, so I'm not worried about that. But now I am in the doghouse. If I want to see the dentist, then the gatekeeper/manager says I have to call in the mornings to see if there is an opening that day. No making an appointment in advance! This is ludicrous.
Still looking for D3, I cannot find another practice nearby that uses laser treatment. So I make an appointment with a D3 that is only 5 miles from my house. And that is when the trouble starts.
(1) There are two tiny places on the front of two teeth where this tiny bit of white covering came off. The largest one is less than 1/4" long and much less wide. The smaller one is the size of two periods on a page. D3 says that 2 fillings fell out. Okay. The charge for fixing this will be $503.00. I think that is highway robbery.
(2) The services rendered ($423) are:
Comprehensive Oral Evaluation $107
X-rays $151 (there were at least 30 x-rays taken, yet the x-rays cost 1/2 of what they did at D-1.)
Periodontal Maintenance $165 (this was a regular teeth cleaning)
The hygienist did all the work. The dentist spent a minute looking at the 2 places on my teeth that need fixing. Dentist stated twice that I do not need a deep cleaning.
So now I am thinking that I will try calling the laser practice (D4), find out what their prices are, and just call them for up to 2 weeks to see if I can get an appointment with them, and ditch D3. I am sure I need a deep cleaning because D1 did that thing where they measure pocket depth and I know a bit about that.
Other choice is to go to Pittsburgh metro and use my former dentist for at least the 2 fillings, which would be at most $200.
Please give me advice!
