Calling all dentists--seriously

**Dexter Rutecki** · 10-24-2006, 07:59 PM

Because of serious pain, just want to get a third opinion if possible. Endodontist or oral surgeons especially, I think.
PM for the shortest possible version of a long story, if anyone has the time.
Thanks.

And I know, gimp central, but I've taken all the pain meds I have so I can post...

**Blatant** · 10-24-2006, 08:27 PM

post said version, maybe it'll help out a fellow mag.

**Dexter Rutecki** · 10-24-2006, 08:42 PM

Shit...OK, keeping it as short as possible.
i was told i needed a root canal a few months ago, but there was no urgency, so i put it off until last month when i got new dental insurance. The plan sucks (of course) and the place i began going to screwed up appointments extending this even longer. then the endodontist, when i finally got to see her, told me she was concerned about the stability of the tooth based on something on the x-ray under the tooth, so she sent me to the periodontist. After being screwed around more, the perio (at the same office) told me I had terrible gum disease and would need perio treatments. He cleared me for the root canal but put me on antibiotics (pills and mouthwash) for my supposed gum infection(s). Then the day i was supposed to (finally) have the root canal they cancelled on me because the endo spoke to the perio and they decided I needed a crown lengthening first, in addition to the gum treatments (scaling?--deep gum cleaning) the perio claimed I needed. I was suspicious and pissed, so I called my 'real' dentist (who first said I needed the root canal) and explained it to him, and he more or less said that he thought I was getting reamed and the dentists would make out on insurance/my payments.
During all this time the huge filling in the tooth came apart and the fistula on the gum began hurting, getting progressively worse. A couple of times over the past week I've been in almost unbearable pain (throughout my jaw) that takes a few hours to go away after taking a lot of Advil/Tylenol/hydrocodone.
So it sucks.
Today I saw my 'real' dentist who confirmed that my gums are fine, but he said extraction of the tooth might be the best option, although root canal could work too. He also said the crown lengthening might not be necessary but should certainly not be done until after the root canal is seen as successful.
So do i lose the tooth or go with the root canal? The tooth is in bad shape, not much left above the gum, but i hadn't thought about extraction until today. My real dentist said i could go either way but that in the long term extraction might be better and wouldn't be any worse than having the root canal.

That's it, fascinating shit, I know. it just sucks really, really badly. And I missed tonight's msp show because of this.

**pointedem** · 10-24-2006, 08:49 PM

maybe your real dentist is full of it,

id get another opinion.

**Brock Landers** · 10-24-2006, 08:49 PM

Fake tooth easy peasy

**bio-smear** · 10-24-2006, 08:51 PM

True cyborgs opt for implants.

**Dexter Rutecki** · 10-24-2006, 10:43 PM

Where'd all the dentists go? I'm hoping to make final arrangements for this damn tooth tomorrow; endo or oral surgeon? Whose heli-skiing am I paying for this year? Not mine, that's for damn sure.

**green mtns rider** · 10-24-2006, 10:56 PM

lose the tooth.

**doublediamond223** · 10-24-2006, 11:01 PM

There are a lot of dentists in my family. If you can scan your x-ray, I'll send out some emails.

**GT40** · 10-24-2006, 11:03 PM

I wish I had an easy answer for you. But a tooth that is really broken down is a tough call and without seeing it and the x-rays, a recommended treatment plan is impossible.

As for pulling it, it depends on where the tooth is and how much you really need it to eat and how it supports your other teeth. Some teeth can be lost with little effect, with others it's vital to replace them.

If they want to do a RCT and Perio on the tooth, ask them how long it should last. I've seen some dentists that will have the patient spend $2000 on a tooth, and if the tooth lasts 1 year, the dentist figures that was well worth it to the patient.

I hope you find a dentist that is there for you and who isn't just looking for the $$$. Thankfully most are legit and caring people.

**FollowMe** · 10-25-2006, 12:03 AM

My experience w/ dental insurance is that unless it's fully paid by employer it's not really worthwhile, especially if you have the cheap plan that has the network of "mall" dentists. Real professionals there. I finally stepped up and bought the expensive plan and had to pay all kinds of copays, this, that, deductibles that I finally figured out that if I used my flexspending (tax free dollars) account, I would have probably been better off, which I am now going to a family friend dentist and paying a pretty penny by the way. It kinda makes sense too if you think about why dental insurance shouldn't work - - everyone and their mom who is expecting major work done goes and buys it for the new benefit plan year. It's like buying homeowners insurance for a house that is already on fire. Insurance companies know that people do this and price that into their products either through premium or deductibles/copays. Gotta find someone you trust. Dentists are basically sole proprietors with a profit incentive. They're running their own businesses. Sorry about your tooth man, make sure you get into the dentist at least twice a year to catch this stuff sooner. Otherwise, you'll pay even bigger time as you get older. I'm seeing it all around me with folks that are older.

**Plakespear** · 10-25-2006, 06:56 AM

**Dexter Rutecki** · 10-25-2006, 07:36 AM

Originally Posted by GT40

I wish I had an easy answer for you. But a tooth that is really broken down is a tough call and without seeing it and the x-rays, a recommended treatment plan is impossible.

As for pulling it, it depends on where the tooth is and how much you really need it to eat and how it supports your other teeth. Some teeth can be lost with little effect, with others it's vital to replace them.

If they want to do a RCT and Perio on the tooth, ask them how long it should last. I've seen some dentists that will have the patient spend $2000 on a tooth, and if the tooth lasts 1 year, the dentist figures that was well worth it to the patient.

I hope you find a dentist that is there for you and who isn't just looking for the $$$. Thankfully most are legit and caring people.

Thanks, yeah I know that diagnosis by message board is dumb. I'm in the process of calling an oral surgeon now to get the thing pulled today, last night and the other day of pain were just too much. Everyone has agreed it needs a root canal, but there are questions about the potential success of it, so I guess this is safest? Easiest?
I know I can trust my real dentist, and I know there's not the same financial incentive for him to carry out procedures like at the other place.
Whatever, it won't matter by the end of the day. Thanks for the advice.

**pappag** · 10-25-2006, 07:58 AM

A bit of a stretch, but would you happen to know what your perio readings are? This is a strong indicator of how bad your situation is.

Depending on the severity of your periodontitis, extraction might be the best route (no pun intended). Problem with not extracting the tooth and just merely temporarily fixing it, is that it turns into an ongoing problem with the ultimately outcome being permanent tooth loss. Also, with root canals, your tooth will eventually discolor to a yellowish tint and depending on the location of the tooth, the root canal may have disfavorable aestethics.

If you're near the NYC area, I can probably help you out with a dentist being that my whole family is full of them. I was the black sheep and went as far as torturing myself with a year of dental school. You couldn't pay me enough money to go back to that hell. You're basically in school for 50 out of 52 weeks of the year from 8 am to 8 pm.

**Dexter Rutecki** · 10-25-2006, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by snoogens

A bit of a stretch, but would you happen to know what your perio readings are? This is a strong indicator of how bad your situation is.

Depending on the severity of your periodontitis, extraction might be the best route (no pun intended). Problem with not extracting the tooth and just merely temporarily fixing it, is that it turns into an ongoing problem with the ultimately outcome being permanent tooth loss. Also, with root canals, your tooth will eventually discolor to a yellowish tint and depending on the location of the tooth, the root canal may have disfavorable aestethics.

If you're near the NYC area, I can probably help you out with a dentist being that my whole family is full of them. I was the black sheep and went as far as torturing myself with a year of dental school. You couldn't pay me enough money to go back to that hell. You're basically in school for 50 out of 52 weeks of the year from 8 am to 8 pm.

I can't imagine being a dentist myself--I have a rough enough time as a patient.
Thanks, but I just scheduled with the oral surgeon for this afternoon. I am so psyched, this will be the best...

**pappag** · 10-25-2006, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by Dexter Rutecki

I can't imagine being a dentist myself--I have a rough enough time as a patient.

Thanks, but I just scheduled with the oral surgeon for this afternoon. I am so psyched, this will be the best...

Root canal or extraction? Either way, you'll get plenty of vics and percs in the end.

**Dexter Rutecki** · 10-25-2006, 08:11 AM

Extraction--woulda called the endo for the root canal.
This has the effect of making a regular day at work look much more appealing.

**DJSapp** · 10-25-2006, 08:17 AM

**mr_gyptian** · 10-25-2006, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by snoogens

Root canal or extraction? Either way, you'll get plenty of vics and percs in the end.

I highly encourage following doc's orders after getting that scrip. I just had my wisdom's yanked 10 days ago and am just now feeling normal. procedure went well, but apparently I'm a bad drug addict. The perc's did not agree with my stomach at all. another piece of advice, having a couple of drinks and popping a couple of pills is decidedly not the same as being on a painkiller prescription for a week and having a couple of drinks.

I hope you like soft foods and soup. good luck.

**Dexter Rutecki** · 10-25-2006, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by mr_gyptian

I highly encourage following doc's orders after getting that scrip. I just had my wisdom's yanked 10 days ago and am just now feeling normal. procedure went well, but apparently I'm a bad drug addict. The perc's did not agree with my stomach at all. another piece of advice, having a couple of drinks and popping a couple of pills is decidedly not the same as being on a painkiller prescription for a week and having a couple of drinks.

I hope you like soft foods and soup. good luck.

I don't, but I like the pain even less, so it's all for the good (I'm telling myself). My knee surgeries have taught me to stay ahead on pain meds, so that's my plan.
Thanks.

**DBdude** · 10-25-2006, 08:27 AM

I had a tooth that needed a root canal, let it go too long and the tooth broke apart. The tooth couldn't be seen when I smiled or spoke. I just had it removed. It's been over 10 years, I'm 43, and the surrounding teeth are stable. My dentist says when the teeth start moving around I'll have to do something. Just get the damn thing pulled if it's not going make you look like a freak.

**pappag** · 10-25-2006, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by DBdude

I had a tooth that needed a root canal, let it go too long and the tooth broke apart. The tooth couldn't be seen when I smiled or spoke. I just had it removed. It's been over 10 years, I'm 43, and the surrounding teeth are stable. My dentist says when the teeth start moving around I'll have to do something. Just get the damn thing pulled if it's not going make you look like a freak.

Attribute that to mesial drift.

Okay, I'll stop now.

**telepariah** · 10-25-2006, 08:37 AM

I had the phobia for a long time. Had to do with a traumatic experience in the days of 8-track tapes and let's just say that hearing anything by Gordon Lightfoot while in a dentist's chair sends me into a suicidal window dive. It even says NO GORDON LIGHTFOOT on my current chart at the dentist who cured me of my phobia. And his office is on the garden level, which is a nice failsafe just in case.

I was so afraid of the dentist the only way I would ever go would be when I had an emergency similar to your own. I lost three teeth to extractions because when I went in it was much easier for me to say, "Just pull the tooth and get me out of here." It got to the point where it was not very easy for me to chew lots of kinds of food and I kept having other emergencies and painful experiences that reinforced my phobia.

What turned it around for me? My wife patiently explained to me that if I went into my old age still losing teeth, my quality of life would really suck. She helped me to understand that having a full head of teeth is a major health benefit. I found a dentist who is very gentle and nurturing. It helped a lot that he is a bit of an armchair mountaineer and also a tele skier and loves to talk to me about my misanthropic lifestyle. So I started on a program of repairing and stabilizing my teeth that took more than two years. I now have root canals and crowns in 8 teeth and three bridges. It cost a lot of money even with company-paid dental insurance, but I am also healthier at age 50 than I have ever been. I still don't like going to the dentist, but I sack up and do it because I like having good teeth. Just a cautionary tale.

If you go for the extraction, don't wait too long before finding a way to afford the implant or the bridge that will restore your bite. In the long run it will be worth it. It will cost a lot more than a single tooth root canal but should also last a lot longer

**DBdude** · 10-25-2006, 08:41 AM

bridges suck, they cut living teeth to fit it in. Go Implant. Implant = $$$$$, probably not totally covered by your plan.

**yogachik** · 10-25-2006, 09:54 AM

I have an implant (or two). So do a few other mags here (I found out when I went through my dental trauma last spring. I also have had root canals, bridges, crowns... thanks to an orthodontist putting my braces on too young, like you, I have dwarfed roots)

Yesterday was my SECOND TO LAST (!) appointment on an implant - and it was hell, but it's going to look fantastic. I'm all good, now, and made the right choices - I never have to fuck around with this one tooth, again.

Implants are very expensive, but they're good, and all of your pain will disappear.