ROOT Canal

[In the Kitchen]

Not bad enough, I have to pay dentist twice a year for cleaning and checking teeth. Now, at Christmas, found out I have abscess. HO HO HO. Guess I was bad girl this year, I really got lump of coal. Start off the New Year expecting to pay this bill. No, I have no insurance. They take xrays like you are going to run away or something. Can't believe how fast they do them.

Had appointment w/regular dentist who diagnosed the tooth as abscessed. Penicillian before hand and today he couldn't find third root. Said there are three roots. Sent me to SPECIALIST who will find root. Will have to return January 3. Meantime, I have temporary filling. Can I eat apples w/this? They told me I could eat anything.

I have always heard root canals are no fun. Was it because of pain or what the cost is? I cannot believe how much the specialist wants and asked me if I wanted to apply for loan? If I don't eat for year maybe I can save that way to pay for all this expense. I had no idea what was involved in ROOT canal. They couldn't tell me how they got abscessed. I thought all you had to do was visit dentist every six months like changing oil in car when needed. Boy, did this wake me up. My family said would be cheaper to get the thing pulled. They are right.

 

[Half Baked]

For me, the pain was in the payment, not the actual work. I had to take out a loan to do mine and it really really really aggravated me. Then I had to have a crown put on it. They are running about $1000 here.

I have no dental insurance either.

Why oh why are medical expenses so high. Don't answer. That was a rhetorical question.

 

[In the Kitchen]

Know

Half Baked, you KNOW how I feel!!! Thanks for compassion. Does your tooth still feel okay? What if you have problems later? No guarantees. So the actual procedure wasn't that painful? Glad to hear that. I just don't know how much the dentist and specialist will add up to.

Isn't it true you try to maintain your teeth and still have something you have to pay for. Like when you keep your food cold. It isn't supposed to spoil? Same way I feel about my teeth. It isn't matter of age either. Girl who was helping wasn't even 30 and she had had two root canals already. You just wonder what happens? I do floss and brush the way he told me to. Might as well not pay attention.

This really bothers me. Oh, well HB you do for sure. Thanks

 

[Half Baked]

When I go into the dentist, and find out that I have ___ cavities or need root canals or crowns, all of the office people are amazed at how good a condition my gums are. I take great care of my teeth and they are just soft or bad genes.

I told my kids I was going to have all my teeth pulled and get fake ones. They screamed and screeched but I just can't afford all the problems. One dentist told me I'd need about $20K to make a pretty smile. Yeah, when monkeys fly out my (fill in blank).

The pain of the shot is no greater than getting a filling.

 

[In the Kitchen]

True

My brother had to have false teeth recently. In relation, getting false ones is cheaper. My brother could not believe it when I told him what it will cost. He said he was glad he didn't have to look forward to that anymore.

Just like doctors, they treat you after you get something. Never give you advice of preventing. You think there is some kind of conspiracy here? Makes me wonder.

 

[Snoop Puss]

Good grief. Come to Spain for a holiday and get it done while you're here. I had the same thing done and a very neat crown put in a few months later. Total cost around 300 euros. What with the flights, it wouldn't work out any cheaper, but at least you could have had a couple of holidays in Barcelona, for example, for the same price!

 

[Candocook]

Unfortunately the root canal is only the beginning. Then there is the crown to protect the tooth.
And false teeth may be cheaper, but it isn't as good as keeping what you have. Endodonty is a relatively new dental specialty which does enable you to keep your own teeth.
And sometimes, roots of teeth just die--and then you need to have them removed. As for cost, when I am having brain surgery, I like to have someone who knows what they are doing rooting (no pun intended!) around in there rather than say, a vet. I feel the same about my teeth.
One year I think I had 3!! The pain before the root canal was as bad as labor pain!!!
Yes, you can eat what you want with the temp.

 

[Barb L.]

I just had a root canal done a couple of weeks ago, I had no pain from the procedure what so ever, and did not need a crown --woo hoo !

 

[Snoop Puss]

Barb, are you sure you don't need a crown? They usually put them in a few months after the root has been removed. As a I understand it, after this kind of work, the tooth, especially if it's a back tooth, is more prone to shatter. Leaving you with a potentially more expensive problem than simply capping.

If you can bear the grisly pictures of dental work, people with problems, etc., have a look at:

Root_Canals

NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED OR PEOPLE WITH A FEAR OF DENTISTS

 

[In the Kitchen]

Payment

I should be giving you people the cost of this whole procedure. I tell you, I hesitate to even bring some of the topics up I do, but when I do I sure get education! I love you all for sharing your knowledge w/me. The people who do the actual work are not interested in what you know. They just want to get it over so they can get paid. Isn't explaining part of the deal whenever you have to pay for something. I know not advertisment expense but taking the time to let one know about what to expect is truly valuable to the patient.

Candocook, thank you for assuring me about eating. My brother thinks the temp will fall out if I eat or brush my teeth. He said I should just wait till I get it fixed. Sure! I know he would want to find out what is acceptable too.
You think eating apple or pear okay then? Had so many hands in my mouth, at least I saw they had gloves on. Thank goodness. I still prefer not having any hands in my mouth except my own if I have to when I floss.

Snoop Puss, you sure know where to get your answers. I only check Google and Yahoo. Talk about limited. This is helpful to everyone. Thanks you for the time and information. No one going to tell you anything you don't already know. I like that.

Barb L was it tooth in the front or back like mine? One of the big ones.

 

[SizzlininIN]

Do you have a large University or Dental School near you? Contact them and see if they have a dental program there. I know the University in a nearby town has one and they provide the service for free if you volunteer to allow their students and instructor use you as a patient. Just a thought.

 

[Barb L.]

I should be giving you people the cost of this whole procedure. I tell you, I hesitate to even bring some of the topics up I do, but when I do I sure get education! I love you all for sharing your knowledge w/me. The people who do the actual work are not interested in what you know. They just want to get it over so they can get paid. Isn't explaining part of the deal whenever you have to pay for something. I know not advertisment expense but taking the time to let one know about what to expect is truly valuable to the patient.

Candocook, thank you for assuring me about eating. My brother thinks the temp will fall out if I eat or brush my teeth. He said I should just wait till I get it fixed. Sure! I know he would want to find out what is acceptable too.
You think eating apple or pear okay then? Had so many hands in my mouth, at least I saw they had gloves on. Thank goodness. I still prefer not having any hands in my mouth except my own if I have to when I floss.

Snoop Puss, you sure know where to get your answers. I only check Google and Yahoo. Talk about limited. This is helpful to everyone. Thanks you for the time and information. No one going to tell you anything you don't already know. I like that.

Barb L was it tooth in the front or back like mine? One of the big ones.

It was on the bottom front--(little guy) !

 

[In the Kitchen]

Lucked Out

Well, you did it this time! Lucked out w/o having big ones giving problems. Well, one thing now you know what to expect.

Snoop Puss, had great idea! I am going to mail your link to my dentist and tell him to give to his patients who never had root canal. Don't you think this would help them? Sure opened my eyes.

 

[Barb L.]

Well, you did it this time! Lucked out w/o having big ones giving problems. Well, one thing now you know what to expect.

Snoop Puss, had great idea! I am going to mail your link to my dentist and tell him to give to his patients who never had root canal. Don't you think this would help them? Sure opened my eyes.

This was my second one, first one was in the back, I think It needed a crown, not sure,was few years back when it was about $450. now $625 !! Yeow!

 

[Snoop Puss]

Snoop Puss, had great idea! I am going to mail your link to my dentist and tell him to give to his patients who never had root canal. Don't you think this would help them? Sure opened my eyes.

It'll certainly encourage patients to keep going back. I'm sitting here with a minor twinge. I should have gone for my check-up in September, but what with one thing and another (all genuine, not merely procrastination) I still haven't been. After looking at that site, it made me think maybe I better had go before it turns out to be fatal!

 

[Candocook]

The temp is very tight. Shouldn't be any problem. It's just filling a hole really.

 

[In the Kitchen]

Swallow It

Just as long as I don't swallow it. He kept dropping one of his pics on my tongue. You don't think that bothered me? I just hoped I didn't have to cough at the time. Crazy what your mind does when everyone looking in your mouth.

You BETTER have your teeth checked. My mother always had her teeth in her apron pocket cause she couldn't keep them in her mouth. Made her nervous. Everytime she had to put them in her mouth she yelled at me to watch my teeth. She was mad about her false ones. Didn't fit right. It sounds funny if it isn't your mother but when someone you love is uncomfortable you don't care what they look like. AT least, I sure don't.

 

[shpj4]

I had a Root Canal a few years back and it was no fun. Someone had to drive me to and from the dentist and thank goodness my Dentist gave me a bottle of Vicodin for the pain which was very nice of him.

I have Dental Insurance but it still costs.

I am so sorry that this had to happen to you this time of year but feel better and take one of those Extra Strengh Pain Pills.

 

[shpj4]

I am very sorry but I was having trouble with my Internet Explorer and a message came up that I had already posted this before.

 

[In the Kitchen]

Second time around

I am very sorry but I was having trouble with my Internet Explorer and a message came up that I had already posted this before.

Always thankful to read comments from someone who has been there. i do appreciate your understanding about the time frame. Nothing like looking forward to paying all the taxes and car insurance and now this! Must be lesson in here someplace?