Rant here...

[meatdrink9]

I'm in serious dental hell right now. The tooth that was supposed to be fixed last spring (at a cost of $2000) is now destroying my entire mouth. I have an abscess. I'm losing bone in my face and if it doesn't stop I could lose more teeth. There were serious mistakes made when the crown installation happened. No follow-up apointment to check on the work. I have to go under an IV and have the tooth removed tomorrow (just barely found all this out from a different dentist). The wife will have to drive me home. The next bill is $3300. Insurance covers nothing. I need bone grafts. Then a metal post installed later. 6 months of wearing a flipper (pretty much no front tooth). I've got sores in my mouth from the infection. Must supress desire to kill.

I don't want sympathy or advice. So don't give any. I just wanted to bitch. I have numerous answers that may or may not work, but the waiting and this new info is just eating me up.

Bitch away here if you feel like it.

[Buster Highmen]

OK. I hear you. Sucks, eh? I had a root ccanal w/ no anesthetic when I had no money. Can you say "it bites"?

[Ski Beaver]

Rip them all out and get some of these:

Bill Bob teef

[mr_gyptian]

JERRY: So you won't believe what happened with Whatley today. It got back to hime that I made this little dentist joke and he got all offended. Those people can be so touchy.
KRAMER: Those people, listen to yourself.
JERRY: What?
KRAMER: You think that dentists are so different from me and you? They came to this country just like everybody else, in search of a dream.
JERRY: Kramer, he's just a dentist.
KRAMER: Yeah, and you're an anti-dentite.

JERRY: I am not an anti-dentite!
KRAMER: You're a rabid anti-dentite! Oh, it starts with a few jokes and some slurs. "Hey, denty!" Next thing you know you're saying they should have their own schools.
JERRY: They do have their own schools!
KRAMER: Yeah!....

[mrryde]

The only bigger ripoff than dental work is dental insurance

[13]

Jesus fuckin' christ. I'm glad I have been with the same dentist for my whole life and a dentist in the family should he drop dead.

Hope it works out, buddy.

[Ski Beaver]

I'm glad I have been with the same dentist for my whole life and a dentist in the family should he drop dead.

Um, this sounds a little gay.

And to consider someone in your own family is illegal.

[Twoplanker]

There's this woman who goes to the dentist. As the dentist leans over to begin working on her, she grabs his balls. The dentist says, "Madam, I believe you've got a hold of my nutsack." The woman replies, "Yes. We're going to be careful not to hurt each other, aren't we?"

[iskibc]

Ouch! Kind of in the same boat as you right now. I'm staring down a $3,000 treatment plan right now. Unreal.

[skibe]

The next bill is $3300. Insurance covers nothing.

My first thought is your insurance company is a bunch of quacks. Hope it turns out ok for ya.

[splat]

J - I'm so bummed to hear that. I have a dentist I wish you could see - he's kind of a homeopathic DDS and his take on dental health is interesting and his work excellent.

On another note - I met a Brazilian dentist (and his enitre family) in Buenos Aires when the hurricane had us stranded, a dental surgeon, actually.
You could fly to Rio and have the work done for 1/4 of the cost, honeymooning with Mindy (not that she'd want to kiss you) while getting the work done. Basically, it's be about the same cost in total, but an exotic vacation thrown in. I'm thinking about doing this very thing.

[Buzzworthy]

If ya let all but one front tooth fall out, you could legitimatly call yourself a West "By God" Virginian.

[Sublime]

I have my fucking wisdom teeth coming in. I'm not sure if I have room or not but it fucking sucks to have the little fuckers slowly rip through my gums. I most likely have a cavity or maybe even a root canal that needs done. Not having dental insurance is the fucking worst the dentists don't even spit before they rape you in the ass.

[Blurred]

I guess we should all re-think our strategy of running all the dentists off of TGR.

[Rusty Nails]

Obviously if someone did faulty work the first time with no follow up, sue the living shit outta them. This, dear friends, is why tort law (and med mal specifically) exists. Typical settlement on dental claims is usually 2-3 time medical costs.

[Mountain Junkie]

Well, at least I feel better about the hundreds of dollars I've spent on PT for my knee that hasn't done a damn thing. I even have a collection agency after my ass. Go US healthcare!!!

Seriously, that sucks. Health insurance becomes more and more of a contradiction every year.

[meatdrink9]

slowly calming down...things look to be improving. I don't want to sue anybody. My boss had me talk to his cousin (lawyer) and it scared me. He's a nice guy but when it got to talking about getting money the green eyed monster showed up in his eyes and I ended the conversation. The lawyer asked if I could "sue the ski area". That ended it. No one is to blame for the injury but me. However the dentist's assistant made some serious mistakes that turned a routine 20 minute apt into a 4 hour pain fest and probably caused the procedure to fail.

The doc is a real nice reasonable guy. I sometimes play a nice reasonable guy on TV. We were able to work some things out tonight. GT has some plans that might improve the overall appearance and pricing (maybe even get me a couple of UT trips for the work)... starting to worry less. It's still going to be awkward for the better part of a year and very painful on probably 2 or 3 different occasions.

[Rusty Nails]

right on. The reasonable human approach is always best. Lawsuits are a last resort. Besides, you prolly have more dentite compassion than others via GT.

Hope things work out as best they can for you.

[CaddyDaddy77]

I hate the dentist, not the man or woman, I hate the idea.

I read this with a cringe, I am the world's biggiest three-year old when it comes to teeth. I hate going, I don't like it, I never will. Bill Cosby's bit in the early 80's is my waking thought of going to the dentist, pain, agony, sharp instuments, and fire. All bad things, all things I do not want in my mouth.

I need to go to the dentist, I have for a while, but have no insurance, and really have no $. About two years ago my life long dentist put in a filling between my furthest back molar and the one in front of it. At the time it hurt afterwords, I beared it for awhile, and then went back. He said it was fine, but it hurt constantly, I got used to it and away I went. About three months ago it cracked and fell out, it felt really good, yes good. My mouth felt like it should have, not cramped like before when the filling was in. I know I need it filled again but I don't have insurance or $, so I am postponing and flossing lots. I think I would not be so against going if I knew it wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg, wish these guys would do free estimates.

I hate the dentist.

Good luck J, see if the guy you are going to has a payment plan, my old dentist before he retired had a payment plan, and I know that's the only way my brother got braces.

[seldon]

You british by any chance?

[Crinkle]

I hate the dentists that I have not the ones that I have met on this board .

I have had my fare share of shitty dentistry work done. py dentist in Philly that I swear was a S&M freak, but didn't realize that I wasn't into pain as a kid.

I had a filling when I lived in Jersey, where the dentist was a tool and drilled too deep and infected the root, forcing me to get a medical filling, which made me smell and taste cloves for weeks, ugh. Then get the filling refilled. When the dentist tried to bill me i laughed at him then almost punched him. I asked him how the hell I was supposed to pay for treatment from something that he did wrong. Best of all he was a no pain dentist, they didn't give out pain pills or use nitrous, so i had to hit up my street dealer. I just recently had to get a filling that the same dentist did because it had failed and it looked like I had a huge coffee stain on my front tooth. Jackass! That being said my new dentist has been clutch, does good work.

[Karl Stall]

Sorry, J. that sucks. I lost a tooth this year as well - traumatic.

[doofdoof]

I have had 4 abcesses over the last 20 years in one of my front teeth. Half a dozen root canals - same tooth. 3 separate crowns (again same tooth), one of which had a ceramic post that snapped in half when they were trying to remove it because they could not relieve an abcess.

Had the tooth pulled about 5 years ago and switched to a Maryland bridge. This snapped off once (my fault), but has not given me a problem for about 4 years now. The implant you are considering should work well I believe, but is much more expensive that my bridge. Ask your dentist about the option.

I should have had my tooth pulled 15 years ago. It's cost me about two weeks in a heli all up

[Squirrel99]

Hey MD9,
I totally empathize with you. When I had my wisdom teeth removed by my 'family dentist' of 15+ years, the fucker told me none of my teeth were impacted. Guess what, all four were f*n impacted. Doused me just with some novacaine. I had to ask for repeated shots of novacaine- prolly ended up having close to 25 shots or so? Fucking asshole freaked me out- my throat swelled up, I started panting, etc... I've never been such a complete asshole in my life. After having other dentists tell me later on, "oh, you probably didn't need all of those removed"

Thought crossed my mind that I should have sued him- not for the $, but to put him in his place. Problem was my dad was friends with the guy. But I haven't spoken to him since. And that's been like 8 years now.

On a positive note (since you're in Denver now), When I got back to school at CU, I went out looking for dental referrals for a new dentist. Lots of great recs for Dr. Dana Johnson. He has an office on Canyon- a few blocks East of Folsom. Anyhow, I can't say enough for this guy. I had some more dental work done by him (and yes, I always get scared of that shit so I totally relate) and him and his staff always put my fears to rest. He put on a bunch of porcelyn vineers that were incredible. I've been to three other dentists while moving around from CO to UT to WA. First thing they all asked me was who did the vineers and a few cavity refills? "they look awesome". So yeah, if you're ever in doubt, seriously, look up Dr. Johnson in Boulder.

Ahh, that felt good to rant! Good luck, buddy. I'm sure everything will turn out fine for ya.

[Lynx]

damn, the thought of finding a new dentist is up there with the thought of buying new boots and getting them fitted again. not fun. i grew up skiing with my dentist back east (family friend). he rules. the end.