Thursday, October 21, 2010

A Tooth For The Killing ...The Finale

Let me begin by saying that I had not planned for this edition but circumstances have overtaken.





We left off the other day at the end of my most recent visit to my new Family Dentist at which time his hygienist applied a protective layer of something or other which would hopefully do away with the sensitivity of my tooth - you know, the second one in, on the Upper Left Hand Side of my mouth.





Sadly, it didn't work.





Another Brief Recap is probably in Order:





  • It all began with a cleaning at my former Dentist's office;

  • She noticed a cavity in my second molar in - on the Upper Left Hand Side;

  • She prescribed a new Crown, a root canal, and finally a fix to the cavity,

  • I told her that if she could not just fix the cavity, all she need do is pull the tooth;

  • She was not at all happy but nonetheless sent me to a Specialist to "do some gum work" that would enable her to fill the cavity;

  • Specialist did the gum work even though I strongly encouraged him to save us all time and money by pulling the tooth;

  • I asked him if he could also do the needed filling but he said that he has never does them - so it was back to Former Family Dentist who fixed the cavity;
  • Former Family Dentist fixes cavity although her heart was not in it;
  • At this point I found a New Dentist - one that was closer to home and came with a smile;
  • Again I went in for a cleaning at which time I pointed out to New Dentist that my Molar - second one in on the Top Left Hand Side - was bothering me (guess Former Dentist was right about the need for a root canal - but then again it could have been simply pulled);
  • In any event, after some give and take and a draconian test with New Dentist and after suggesting that he too just pull the damn thing out - New Dentist decides that I need to go to a Dental Pain Specialist to determine the source of the pain - you know the pain that was originating in the root of my second Molar in ...;
  • Pain Specialist Dentist takes all but 15 minutes to determine the pain's origin - my second Molar in on the Top Left Hand Side and charges $120 for his diagnosis but he allows that a gel can be applied to the source of the pain which has a 50% chance of success;
  • Not surprisingly, he could not apply this gel himself so I am sent back to my New Dentist for this taxing 5 minute procedure;
  • This work is done for free along with an admonition that I may still end up requiring the dreaded Root Canal.

Okay - we are now more or less back to the present.

I go home and a few days later realize that the 'gel' treatment has failed to alleviate the pain.

I then call the New Dentist's office and request the dreaded Root Canal.

New Dentist confirms that he does not do Root Canals and I am shipped off to another Specialist to have this fine work performed.

As I get into the Specialist's chair I foolishly inquire - without vigour - whether or not it is too late just to have the damn tooth pulled. She looked at me like I had to heads and quickly inserted the Novocain.

Work done - bill rendered - another $1,050 for 45 minutes work - I kid you not.

So the final tally - Dentists $2,050.00 // me - a new filling and a root canal and one damaged Crown.

Remember now, this is in addition to the initial $1,000 plus that was paid to have the initial Crown work done.

Next time they won't push me around...

As I see it..

'Galagher'