A Tooth For The Killing...Part Two

First a recap.

When I left off I was in the process of locating a new Family Dentist - primarily to get one closer to my home and thereby save going 'down town' for my frequent dental visits.

It also had to do with the fact that I still had my aching tooth - the one that I wanted pulled. As of the last writing I had avoided a root canal and had retained my original Crown. The Dentists though were up by another cool $1000.

My wife Anne recommended a great dentist much closer to home and I was off for my initial visit. It went on some time and the guy seemed quite friendly and his staff were all over you with friendliness.

I should mention that upon my entering their shop I was handed the usual form for completion - the one that asks for particulars about your dental insurance and what drugs you are on etc. But this form went well beyond the norm. For instance, it asked how I wished to be addressed by Staff and Dentist alike. I filled that out with "Worshipful Sir" believing that just 'Sir' was a bit too informal.

Well the Staff convulsed with this but soon made it evident that my wished for title was not in their vocabulary. I then offered 'Sir' but that too received all but howls of laughter. Makes one wonder the value of these forms?

Anyway, the initial visit went well and I kept my mouth shut - not easy in a dentist office - about by bothersome tooth.

A month or two past and I was back at the new Dentist office for my first cleaning. The nice young lady doing the cleaning asked if any teeth in particular were giving my trouble.

Now was my time - "yes" I responded - "my second molar in on the left top side often aches and is extremely sensitive to both cold and hot". "I'll have the dentist check on it before you leave" said she.

In comes my new dentist - harried this time and not with the friendly demeanour he showed during my initial visit. "What's the trouble?" he demanded. And I recount for him the problem I have been having with you know what. "Well I only have two minutes" responded the Dentist - "I do not have time to diagnose the problem."

Had it not been for the nice young lady present I would have told new Dentist what he could do with his two minute diagnosis. Rather and more to the point, I told him that I had an easy solution for him.

Pull It Out.

Well the look on his face far surpassed the expression of my former dentist when confronted with the same offered cure. He nearly swallowed his dentures if he had any which I well suspect he did not.

He grabbed a jar of something or other - inserted one of his instruments of torture into it - telling me that this would drop the temperature on same to nearly zero centigrade - then he applied it to the outside of my troublesome tooth. Wow did that hurt.

Again, I had the sense that a Dentist was taking particular satisfaction in inflicting pain on me. I was beginning to get the impression that Dentists do not like being told to pull anything out.

Where was olde Doc Dunnett when you needed him - he'd pull your tooth out on demand.

I was truly floored by his next comment - "We will now have to determine where the pain is coming from?"

"The second molar in" I proclaimed.

"Not necessarily" he said - "it could be coming from the teeth on either side of it".

"We will need you to see a Specialist to determine the location of the pain".

Another Specialist? You have to be kidding - I thought, but too afraid now to vocalize.

I paid my bill - including an additional $80 charge for the Dentist's 2 minute consultation and picked up my appointment to see the Pain Specialist.

Back downtown I went. The Dental Specialist took but 15 minutes which included a good portion of time talking about the weather - it's been quite rainy of late. He took out a similar looking jar as my new family dentist had and placed into it the same looking instrument of torture and advised me that this was going to hurt.

I told him that I was quite familiar with the drill but I refrained from offering him my quick fix solution.

And Boy did it hurt - but not as much as when Family Doc performed the test.

His Finding?

It's your second molar in from the top left.

On your way out pay the nice receptionist $120 for my diagnosis.

A day or two later my New Family Dental Office called to say they have received Pain Specialist's report and I am to come in as soon as I can.

In I go - where upon I am told that a gel can be applied to my gum surrounding my second molar in and that with luck that will be all that is required to solve the problem.

Technician applies the gel while New Dentist offers up that if this does not work and there is better than a 50% chance that it will not work - then we will have to do a Root Canal.

At this point I have totally given up on my quest to have the damn tooth pulled - I ask him if he can do the Root Canal?

"No, we will have to send you to a Specialist".

Finally some good news - the Receptionist hands me the Bill for $40 but it is marked paid. "On the House" she proclaims.

If only she had also referred to me as Worshipful Sir.