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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on June 13, 2008, at 13:02:06
Two years ago I had this severe toothache. I went to the dentist and he couldn't find anything wrong with my tooth. The X-ray did not show anything was wrong.
The dentist just gave me some antibiotics and sent me on my way.
I was still in severe pain so I sought a second opinion. I went to another dentist.
This dentist also could not find anything wrong wtih my tooth. He then deduced that it must be a cracked tooth. He gave me some Ibuprophen and sent me to a root canal specialist.
Meanwhile I was in severe pain and the meds did not help at all. So I just suffered for about 3 weeks until the pain just went away.
I saw the root canal specialist after a few months. He could not find anything wrong with my tooth and since my tooth stopped hurting, he suggested I just wait to see if the pain returned.
Now 2 years later, I have benefits from work so I went for my routine cleaning and checkup.
I got the complete exam and the dentist told me I had an abscess where the painful tooth was two years ago.
He told me I need a root canal and crown placed on my tooth. I also have a very small cavity.
It is estimated it will cost $2000 to fix all this. My insurance covers 80% and I think there is a maximum that can be covered.
So after seeing 2 dentists and 1 specialist, I still end up with an abscess! I'm guessing I've had it for nearly 2 years! I am not happy.
I just read all sorts of horrible things about dental abscesses, like brain infections and all that.
How did this happen to me?
Posted by Phil on June 13, 2008, at 14:03:50
In reply to I found out something terrible from dentist, posted by Deneb on June 13, 2008, at 13:02:06
Be happy you have dental insurance that pays 80%!!
Your dentists seem to suck but good insurance is nice.
Posted by ClearSkies on June 13, 2008, at 14:16:05
In reply to I found out something terrible from dentist, posted by Deneb on June 13, 2008, at 13:02:06
Deneb, remember that I worked for dentist for some time? I can tell you that problems with teeth can take years to surface, that pain in a tooth can't be related to decay or a potential abscess for quite some time - this is due to natural pockets that are within our jaws and not necessarily due to one dentist or another's competency. The usual rule is to "watch and see". Dentists won't do root canals as a precautionary treatment (especially since teeth can have anywhere between 1 and 4 roots - which one would they treat if it doesn't show up on an xray?).
Sometimes a treatment course of antibiotics will "settle" a tooth down, but quite often the tooth will eventually abscess on its own schedule. $2000 is about par for the cost of a root canal and a crown, unfortunately. Perhaps your dentist's office will help you plan to pay off the balance of what the insurance won't cover, over a reasonable period of time. It doesn't hurt to ask - usually the office manager or receptionist can talk to you about those arrangements.
Dental stuff sucks!
CS
Posted by Phillipa on June 13, 2008, at 17:38:58
In reply to Re: I found out something terrible from dentist » Deneb, posted by ClearSkies on June 13, 2008, at 14:16:05
Seriously thanks for the education as I have a mouth full of crowns. I replaced my fillings with them when had good insurance and working. Phillipa
Posted by Deneb on June 13, 2008, at 19:32:54
In reply to Re: I found out something terrible from dentist » Deneb, posted by ClearSkies on June 13, 2008, at 14:16:05
Thanks for your reply Clearskies.
Reading about how dental abscesses can kill people just freaked me out. I didn't know that thing about the roots and how dentists are supposed to wait.
OK, so I've had the abscess for a long time I'm guessing, so I guess it's not that bad to wait a week to have the root canal?
The dentist said my tooth stopped hurting because it died.
I need to get a night guard after this. I think my teeth grinding cracked my tooth.
I just had no idea I have an abscess. My tooth does not hurt at all. I hope this means the abscess was caught at an early stage. I have fears about the infection spreading.
Posted by daveuk08 on June 17, 2008, at 19:26:55
In reply to I found out something terrible from dentist, posted by Deneb on June 13, 2008, at 13:02:06
I have regular check ups on my teeth over here in the UK, of which I have to pay for, luckyly I have a great dentist, I have spent £1000`s on my teeth as I find it gives me more confidence in my smile. I don`t know if you can get it acoss the pond in the US, but because I have crowns on my teeth my dentist recommended that I use "Colgate Peroxyl" mouthrinse as gets right into those tiny cracks and crevises, and helps prevent infections etc. I hope this is of some help for you and anyone else, as we say over here prevention is cheaper than the cure.
Dave
Posted by Deneb on June 20, 2008, at 0:28:21
In reply to Re: I found out something terrible from dentist, posted by daveuk08 on June 17, 2008, at 19:26:55
Cracked teeth are unpredictable.
I read online that there are no guarantees when working with cracked teeth. The tooth may have to be extracted despite a dentist's best efforts.
Thinking I might lose a tooth is very upsetting to me.
I'm thinking if I lose my tooth tomorrow I'll kill myself.
I don't want to lose any teeth.
:-(
Posted by Deneb on June 20, 2008, at 2:50:52
In reply to Re: I go for root canal tomorr ***trigger***, posted by Deneb on June 20, 2008, at 0:28:21
Sorry, I didn't mean my previous post. I was just a little upset.
I have to think rationally about this.
Losing a tooth is not the end of the world.
I probably won't kill myself over the loss of a tooth. Lots of people have missing teeth. They seem OK.
If I find out I have some horrible disease however, that is another story.
Posted by muffled on June 20, 2008, at 18:01:43
In reply to Re: I go for root canal tomorr, posted by Deneb on June 20, 2008, at 2:50:52
FWIW Deneb, I have had 3 root canals, they kinda suck, but then its done and tooth don't hurt no more.
I got GOLD crowns, BLING!
Also lost a tooth. No biggie, got plenty more still.
It'll be fine.
You don't got a disease, you got a rotten tooth is all.
Take care, bring your ipod.
:-)
M
Posted by Deneb on June 20, 2008, at 19:26:24
In reply to Re: I go for root canal tomorr, posted by muffled on June 20, 2008, at 18:01:43
It was very unpleasant and uncomfortable even though it didn't hurt.
In the middle of the procedure there was something wrong with the computer and they couldn't get my X-rays up.
I ended up getting 2 X-rays before they figured out the computer. They had tired to develop the film the traditional way and I heard them say that the film had been overexposed or something, so that didn't work. I was just left alone, which my mouth propped wide open and files sticking out of my tooth for minutes at a time. I think over all, I spend like 20 mins just waiting by myself. I also choked on my saliva a few times because no one suctioned my mouth and the dental assistant hurt my gums and lip when putting in the X-ray film.
It took over an hour and a half to finish the root canal and my jaw was tired and sore.
I'm glad I took a propranolol and 1 mg of my Mom's Ativan an hour before. It was still horrible, but when I got home I went to sleep and the horror seems more distant.
I still need to get the crown done. I don't want to go back. :-(
Reliving this is making me upset.
Posted by gardenergirl on June 20, 2008, at 19:44:31
In reply to Re: I go for root canal tomorr, posted by muffled on June 20, 2008, at 18:01:43
Good luck. I found that root canals were much easier than I anticipated.
gg
This is the end of the thread.
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