Dental work

My first trip to the Endodontist didn't go well. That appointment was just a consultation to find out what was wrong and what I need to get done. The endodontist himself looked at me for a total of 3 minutes (out of the full hour I was there). Dr. Gary Glassman seemed nice enough (had a nice tan) but I had to have the assistant re-explain everything to me. So basically...

I went to an Endodontist (root canal specialist) that my regular dentist recommended for an old tooth that developed a swelling one day last month (which "popped" pus later on, after I played with it). I happened to have a dental appt. the next day so inquired about it. Anyway, a root canal that I had done 20 years ago was infected; 5 years ago a Periodontist (who did my gum surgery for an infection) did her thing but that method failed. She cut the infection/end off the root but didn't seal it or something (still a common method apparently) but that didn't get rid of ALL infection so gradually from the year 2000 I've been developing an infection in my roots!

This is a big pain because I had the surgery done in order to get a crown. Now this specialist has to go through the crown (hopefully it can be saved otherwise I'll have to get THAT redone as well, which is only partially covered) and do both a re-root canal AND the gum surgery. He'll remove the old root canal filling (out of all 3 roots, not just the one that the periodontist looked at), get rid of the infection, then make sure no other infection exists before sewing me up. A 2-hour appointment to the tune of $2500! For one freaking tooth! Lorne needs similar work, just more of it. I am only covered $1500 per year per person. I am not prepared to fork out $1000 of my own money right now to a specialist for a tooth that does not ache. However, the infection will eventually cause it to loosen so I will need it done at some point. Otherwise, I'll have to get a peg. These are the last resorts! I was so upset at that appointment, I had to hold back tears twice. Mainly because I felt really screwed by the system, and that it costs SO much money. I just felt railroaded. So I got as much info as I could. They submitted the work to my insurance company to see exactly how much would be covered. I haven't heard back from the insurance company or the dental office, maybe because they realize my insurance doesn't cover much of it. I even faxed the Petitcodiac Health Clinic to see if they can send me my dental records (from 20 years ago) or at least the name of the dentist who did the original root canal. In 2000, my dentist had found a piece of black cotton (from a cotton ball) in my root! Piss me off! This has been going on way too long, and costing too much money. That stupid cotton was the initial cause of the infection, 15 years later it should have been taken care of, now this...

Lorne's sister Joanne asked me if I'd consider looking at getting the same work done in New Brunswick because the prices would be cheaper, but this guy is the best and I would want to get it done right once and for all. He pretty much guarantees the whole procedure will be 100% effective (well 95%, they have to cover their asses) and he's quite well known in his community, teaches, was top of his class, is on different boards, etc. So although it is the way to go (rather than have my tooth extracted and get a peg put in), it's so freakin' expensive!

I don't know what people do who don't have the means to get regular dental maintenance let alone "extra" things like this. Ugh!

Lorne said to just forget about it for now because we know we can't afford this yet. Plus, I think his teeth should get worked on first. AND I would much sooner put $2500 towards laser eye surgery (if my tooth is not bothering me). It was hard at first but I am putting it all aside. If I can just get some "pay back", either from the stupid periodontist, or from the original dentist (I have no idea who that was) I would be happier. Feel like some justice was done or something...

Dr. Gary Glassman, D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery), FRCD (C) (Fellow in the Royal College of Dentists of Canada)