TOTALLY GEEKED!

I never had a dentist make me wait for a problem like that. Typically they want to schedule it the next day and I have to put it off until my day off. This seems odd to me. But it's a small town, and the practice is probably busy day to day with just getting people in for their cleanings.

Our dentist's office has appointments available every day for emergencies - a special block of time set aside for problems. Or, if they are booked, they offer to come in early or stay late to accommodate you. But they also have a dentist doing all the tough cases while the hygenist does all the cleanings and the dentist just pops in to check everything over and say hi. Then he is back to the tough cases.

Yes but she said 2 or 3 days on the antibiotic would be enough. I am pissed. I may pull my entire family out of their practice.

Call back and ask why you can't get in sooner. Explain that you are in real pain and that it's unacceptable to make you wait. See what their reaction is. They may not realize how much it hurts you and think you are ok with the wait.

If they can't get you in sooner...go elsewhere and tell them why in a letter sent to the dentist and not to the office. He or she may not know what the scheduler is doing.

The dental care in this country is atrocious for the most part. There are lot of kids who get no dental care. But, yet, nobody seems to care about that in our conversations about national Healthcare.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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  OK, I went to the dentist.  I actually have a cavity between my 2 upper teeth.  And, it freaking HURTS.  They put me on antibiotics.  ANd, they are going to fill the cavities in April at my next appt.   And, I also have a cracked filling on the bottom molar but that one does'n't bother me as much so I will have to get all 3 teeth done.  But, WHY do I have to wait for 3 freaking weeks with pain to get this damn thing done? Funny how regular Medicine doesn't operate the way dentistry does.  Can't they block in some time to take care of patients having acute problems?  Or, do I need to find a new dentist?  I have been going there for years with my 3 kids and this the first time I ever needed something done on a more urgent basis.  It is painful and hard to work when your freaking tooth is throbbing.

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Oh, I 100% agree.  Know of any other dentists?  Is it because they are trying to treat with antibiotics? 

TrudyML wrote:

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Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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  OK, I went to the dentist.  I actually have a cavity between my 2 upper teeth.  And, it freaking HURTS.  They put me on antibiotics.  ANd, they are going to fill the cavities in April at my next appt.   And, I also have a cracked filling on the bottom molar but that one does'n't bother me as much so I will have to get all 3 teeth done.  But, WHY do I have to wait for 3 freaking weeks with pain to get this damn thing done? Funny how regular Medicine doesn't operate the way dentistry does.  Can't they block in some time to take care of patients having acute problems?  Or, do I need to find a new dentist?  I have been going there for years with my 3 kids and this the first time I ever needed something done on a more urgent basis.  It is painful and hard to work when your freaking tooth is throbbing.

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Oh, I 100% agree.  Know of any other dentists?  Is it because they are trying to treat with antibiotics? 

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The dentists around here are like freaking gatekeepers.  Local dentists will NOT see you if have any type of current problem unless you are their patient.  They don't want to hone in other people's territories.  So, you cannot get in to see any local dentist with a current issue.  It's ridiculous but that is what they do. 

The cavity is down into the nerve in my upper tooth. My other tooth with the cracked filling only bothers me if I am eating. The upper one is throbbing and giving me a headache.

Sounds horrible! :(

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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The cavity is down into the nerve in my upper tooth. My other tooth with the cracked filling only bothers me if I am eating. The upper one is throbbing and giving me a headache.

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 Can you take vicodin or Percocet?  I'd ask for a few to get you through.  Tooth pain is the worst.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:

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Well, I mean don't they build in some block time to deal with things? It's ridiculous. They haven't modified their practices in years. And, it takes 100 damn appts to get anything done. Why can't multiple teeth be fixed at once? Can you imagine if Medicine operated like they did?

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You need someone more caring and less GREEDY.

 

I will try that Ed. Thanks.

Ed, can't you crush up aspirin & smear it on the gums to help too? I've heard that somewhere.

just Czech wrote:

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The infection has to clear, LGS. Otherwise, you will be in worse pain next week. Trust me on this one.

Sorry you are in so much pain. Heat pack?

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Oh, I understand that.  And, I clearly asked the dentist, how long do I need to be on the antibiotics before they do the filling.  And, she said a day or two was enough.  So, anyway, they are going to squeeze me in this Thursday morning.  Then, I will pack up my family and move to a new practice! 

My dentist has a very busy practice by himself but he would make sure he saw me asap. Even if that meant staying late or seeing me on the weekend. If you aren't super attached there is no harm in shopping around. Tell her you are suffering and can she recommend another office that could fit you in sooner.

A dentist opened his office on a Sunday just to treat one of us with a broken tooth.

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:

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Glad you will go to a new practice after this urgent situation is done. Do yourself a favor and establish a relationship with the new practice soon, before you have another urgent situation. My dentist is awesome. If I called on a Sunday night he would meet me in his office immediately.

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 Exactly.... LGS, find someone that cares...

How are you doing?

OK, had my upper dental problem done. Dentist says I need a root canal and crown. Soooo, should I just pull the tooth and get an implant. OR, get the root canal, then a crown, blah, blah?

Go with the root canal & crown. The implant will take 4 months after the extraction has healed. It may also require bone grafting depending on the situation. IMO extraction should be a last resort.

I've had a couple of root canals, and it didn't bother me one bit. Two visits (one for the procedure and temp crown, back again the next week for the permanent crown). I never felt a thing.

BUT I am that person that LOVES to get my teeth cleaned. I pay more for a deep cleaning every time. It's very relaxing to me...

Well, I guess I will suck it up then and get the root canal. I guess I can still get it extracted if that doesn't pan out.

Me too!!

If I could just stop eating ICE!

flan

Lexxy wrote:

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flan327 wrote:

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If I could just stop eating ICE!

flan

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 That is very bad for your teeth! 

 

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So are Milk Duds...I've pulled out fillings eating those bad boys.

flan