Happy Teeth

I had a cavity filled today.  I should say I had a cavity filled by a competent dentist.  This was a stark contrast to the first two dentists I went to after moving here from Michigan.  They were awful in their own special way. 

The dental plan offered by the university is not the best.  One limitation, which is being changed this year, is that plan participants were required to use a dentist in the Columbia alumni network.  That really limits the choice if you live in the suburbs.  In my case there was only one dentist within a reasonable driving distance.  That dentist performed the teeth cleaning and took no prisoners in doing so.  My gums bled for hours after the visit and it was several days before I could brush my teeth.  Thankfully there were no cavities to be filled by that dentist.  It did scare me off from a return visit. 

An office mate suggested a dentist to me after I moved into the city.  She said the dentist seemed fine but she had only gone for cleanings.  It turned out I needed a crown.  It also turned out this dentist was not up to the task.

I had a crown put on once before, when I lived in Ohio.  It was a two visit process.  First visit:  clean out the cavity, take an impression, put on a temporary crown.  Second visit two weeks later:  take off temporary crown, put on permanent crown. Drs. Kelly and Thebes were great.

This new crown involved considerably more visits.  At one point I was going weekly.  The first appointment went fine.  The problems started on the second visit.  I was expecting a permanent crown.  What I got was another impression taken.  Over my protests the dentist insisted she did not take an impression on the first visit (I assume she lost the first set of impressions). 

Having the color of the permanent crown match that of my other teeth was very important to the dentist.  She was disappointed that I didn't care.  I didn't care because a.) an upper back tooth is rarely visible, and b.) I am blessed with many fillings, the colors of which make a rainbow of silver, gray and white.  Which color would the crown need to match?

On the third visit she broke the permanent crown.  New impressions were needed.  The new permanent crown was temporarily attached.  I was told not to eat anything chewy or hard for two months.  After the two-month hiatus the nearly weekly visits commenced.  There would be sculpting of the crown.  There were interruptions to answer the phone.  One afternoon she quit early to catch a train. 

Sometimes I'd have to make a co-pay.  Sometimes I didn't.   

It was decided I needed a root canal.  The temporary permanent crown was temporarily replaced by another temporary crown.  It was several weeks before I could see the root canal specialist.  More impressions and a new permanent crown had to be made following the root canal.  The permanent crown was permanently attached.  She wasn't done as more sculpting was needed.  What was the point of the impressions? 

Before my last visit I received a postcard reminder that it was time for my six-month checkup.  She later called me at work as a follow-up reminder.  When I declined the invitation she wanted to know why not.  I said that returning wasn't a good idea.

Today's procedure with Dr. Low restored my faith in dentistry.  He was professional, friendly and efficient.  I was in and out of the office in thirty minutes this afternoon.    

Comments

[jeff]

all I can say is: ouch!

[Joe]

Ouch to the dental procedures or my overly long story?

[jeff]

dental procedures--you should report that dentist to the proper authorities!

j.

[thomas]

What apost! It was really mind blowing!

[Elizabeth Cull]

Admit it or not, but there are times that we get so afraid of going to the dentist because of their procedures. And there are some whom we are doubtful if they are dentist or not because of the way they have treated us. In my case, great thing that I have a true and great dentist (Highland Park-based). My dentist (Libertyville IL) will always make me feel alright although the procedures were kinda traumatic. I think dentists should be like that, for us not to get scared anymore.

[Timothy McLaney]

That's a lot of work on your mouth. Sometimes we encounter such siituations. They call it the Murphy's Law or, sometimes, luck is simply not on our side. The bottomline, however, is great that you didn't lose faith in dentists. In the end, it's great that you found a capable one.