Posted by ClearSkies on June 13, 2008, at 14:16:05
In reply to I found out something terrible from dentist, posted by Deneb on June 13, 2008, at 13:02:06
Deneb, remember that I worked for dentist for some time? I can tell you that problems with teeth can take years to surface, that pain in a tooth can't be related to decay or a potential abscess for quite some time - this is due to natural pockets that are within our jaws and not necessarily due to one dentist or another's competency. The usual rule is to "watch and see". Dentists won't do root canals as a precautionary treatment (especially since teeth can have anywhere between 1 and 4 roots - which one would they treat if it doesn't show up on an xray?).
Sometimes a treatment course of antibiotics will "settle" a tooth down, but quite often the tooth will eventually abscess on its own schedule. $2000 is about par for the cost of a root canal and a crown, unfortunately. Perhaps your dentist's office will help you plan to pay off the balance of what the insurance won't cover, over a reasonable period of time. It doesn't hurt to ask - usually the office manager or receptionist can talk to you about those arrangements.
Dental stuff sucks!
CS
poster:ClearSkies
thread:834458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20080601/msgs/834470.html