Speediest dental treatments I ever got in my whole life .......

[Stinky The Clown]

Last night, at supper, a crown popped off.

This morning, at a few minutes before nine, I call me dentist. "We can see you at ten." "Really?" "Really."

I show up. I need a root canal. "We'll call the endodontist and see when he can take you." "He can see you at eleven." "Really?" "Really." "Not next week?" "Nope. Get going."

The only thing stopping me from getting the new crown prep done was the endodontist saying I need to wait at least three days before screwing with the tooth.

I am paying the bill. "You guys been slow?" "Yes. A lot of patients have been canceling or just putting things off."

I can't understand that. Who does voluntary root canals? :shrug: I should think every damn bit of a root canal guy's business is necessary, isn't it? And if they're canceling because of money, how do they deal with the pain?

[eleny]

1. They may just be getting them pulled instead

[notadmblnd]

2. Pull them themselves?

As an adult I've pulled one of my own teeth. It was a back molar. It wasn't that hard. :shrug:

[alfredo]

6. My dad used to do that too.

[LisaM]

3. Maybe they go somewhere cheaper

I know that it used to cost me more because my dentist wasn't on my network (she was very good, though, so I stuck with her). She finally went on the network, though I think she had to take a loss to do so.

[SmileyRose]

4. extraction is about $200 around here.

My guess is people in pain are choosing to give up the tooth rather than spend next month's mortgage payment trying to save it.


edit -- tooth, truth.......hey that might be true too. LOL

[ret5hd]

5. Recreational root canals! Probably those same welfare queens that get recreational abortions!

And spend all their change on crack and cigarettes.

[Donnachaidh]

7. and then bitch about the cheese sandwiches at their kids school. n/t

[Warpy]

8. Unfortunately, my store front doctor has been getting really busy

as people without jobs can't pay their COBRA and go to him for routine care at a moderate cost, cheaper than going to their old doc as self pay to an HMO.

I noticed 3 new names on the glass last time, bringing the total to my doc plus six part timers.

[sandyj999]

9. Exactly what I thought.

I went to a new dentist and I used all my insurance for last year and explained to them that when I got the money together for my 20% I would make an appointment and we would start on this years benefit. I received a call the second week of January wanting to set up an appointment and I explained that when I had the money for my copay I would call them. They have called three times during this month and although it showed on the caller ID they didn't leave a message.

Again on Monday I did take the call and repeated that I would come when I had the money as I would not put it on a credit card. The very next day I receive a letter telling me they were concerned because I hadn't completed my treatment and prices could go up. I am really boiling now and although he is a great dentist the nagging doesn't sit well with me. It tells me they are hurting for money too but I have other priorities.
:banghead:

[tg]

10. Root canals are sometimes time optional

If the tooth has died quietly and is being cleaned out before a permanent crown, you could delay the whole job for quite a while. -tg