Capt Steve
US Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2008
- Messages
- 1,678
- Reaction score
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About 10 days ago I woke twice in one night to severe pain in my upper right jaw. As I don't have any on going dental issues it got my undivided attention and off to my local dentist I went.
After the exam he diagnosed an infection in my upper right #2 molar. Prescribed 7 days of Amoxocillan {500's three times a day} in a futile attempt to knock out the infection. He neglected to warn me that:
A. This probably would not get the job done and B: there would be a whole bunch of pain coming my way. At this point they shut down their office for the extended holidays and sent me home with a referral to an Endodontist who was also closed until 1/3.
I think you can see where this was headed... I gutted it out for a week using over the counter meds in vain attempt to mitigate what was quickly becoming unbearable pain. Got an appointment for a root canal and drove 100 miles down the off the mountain to Mesa leaving in 3" of snow with another inch of ice beneath.
I have had a couple of root canals over the years and they were minor, relatively painless events which left me with high hopes for relief that were soon to be dashed. It took an hour and 15 minutes of grinding away but he finally finished and pronounced me good to go assuring me that the multiple pain injections {4 needles - 4 injections each} would see me home through the 2 hour drive and I would be pain free for at least 3 more hours.
To say the least he was WRONG! This guy should run for congress. I had them call in a prescription for the pain and got Hydrocodone which helps but does NOT provide much relief. After two days my pain levels are down to approximately what it was when they gave the bill. My insurance got me a $560 discount leaving a balance due of $1,440, Yep the Mother of all Root Canals at an Endodontics specialty clinic comes in at $2,000!
Adding insult to injury I have to go back to my regular dentist to have the crown that was destroyed to do the root canal replaced. That should be another $300 but will save that thrill for a a couple of weeks down the road to give my tooth more time to heal. Fortunately I have the money but can think of a few things i would rather have spent it on. Thanks for letting me vent and much like a little decent bourbon... it helps.
After the exam he diagnosed an infection in my upper right #2 molar. Prescribed 7 days of Amoxocillan {500's three times a day} in a futile attempt to knock out the infection. He neglected to warn me that:
A. This probably would not get the job done and B: there would be a whole bunch of pain coming my way. At this point they shut down their office for the extended holidays and sent me home with a referral to an Endodontist who was also closed until 1/3.
I think you can see where this was headed... I gutted it out for a week using over the counter meds in vain attempt to mitigate what was quickly becoming unbearable pain. Got an appointment for a root canal and drove 100 miles down the off the mountain to Mesa leaving in 3" of snow with another inch of ice beneath.
I have had a couple of root canals over the years and they were minor, relatively painless events which left me with high hopes for relief that were soon to be dashed. It took an hour and 15 minutes of grinding away but he finally finished and pronounced me good to go assuring me that the multiple pain injections {4 needles - 4 injections each} would see me home through the 2 hour drive and I would be pain free for at least 3 more hours.
To say the least he was WRONG! This guy should run for congress. I had them call in a prescription for the pain and got Hydrocodone which helps but does NOT provide much relief. After two days my pain levels are down to approximately what it was when they gave the bill. My insurance got me a $560 discount leaving a balance due of $1,440, Yep the Mother of all Root Canals at an Endodontics specialty clinic comes in at $2,000!
Adding insult to injury I have to go back to my regular dentist to have the crown that was destroyed to do the root canal replaced. That should be another $300 but will save that thrill for a a couple of weeks down the road to give my tooth more time to heal. Fortunately I have the money but can think of a few things i would rather have spent it on. Thanks for letting me vent and much like a little decent bourbon... it helps.
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