November 2017 - Dental Care at Flint's Crossing

I’m at a loss at how to rectify a situation I got myself into by trying to save money. I had a toothache. Normally, I’d go to my dentist but he’s kind of high end and I was low on funds. I thought just this once I’d save some cash and go to an affordable dentist who treats dental emergencies. I will never do this again. Now I have to explain to my good dentist why I am now missing a tooth. When I went in, he said I needed a root canal treatment. He spent well over two hours doing it. I was in pretty bad pain because my jaw was open the whole time and he’d jerk my head back and forth as he muttered under his breath. As if that unpleasantness wasn’t enough, there was a giant cracking sound. The dentist cursed and then left the room. Another employee came in and told me my tooth broke and would need to be extracted. At that point, I was just trying to get everything over with so I agreed to the extraction. Now I’m without a tooth. As if to add salt to the would, I received the bill today and he charged me for both the root canal and the extraction. This “affordable” appointment has cost me a lot more than money. What do I do?

Ceanne W.

Dear Ceanne,

As you’ve unfortunately discovered, there is a big difference between affordable dentistry and cheap dentistry. This appointment would likely have been less expensive, both in terms of finances and teeth, had you gone to your regular dentist. Of course, you know that now and are in need of where to go from here.

The first thing I’d do is contest the bill. At the very least it was bad form for him to bill you for both procedures. We’ll never know if the need for the extraction was his fault or not, but most dentists would just charge for either the root canal treatment or the extraction, regardless.

The next thing is to discuss with your actual dentist your tooth replacement options. Ideally, you’d want a dental implant. These are the best replacements and will feel and function like having a permanent, healthy tooth in place.

I’m sure given the circumstances your dentist would work with you on payment options. If he doesn’t do in-house payment plans, ask about Care Credit. It’s a medical “credit card” that allows you to set your terms of repayment.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.

I know there is tons of mercury in amalgam fillings. I made my dentist promise he’d never give me an amalgam filling. He promised and said only white fillings or crowns for me. Then I got a crown last week. I found out later there’s something called an amalgam glass isomer underneath it and the white crown on top. Does this mean I have mercury in my mouth?

Danae H.

Dear Danae,

Mercury-Free Fillings

It’s likely the word amalgam that is throwing you. Because of its context in the silver-colored fillings, people assume it is the word associated with mercury. That’s not the case. The word amalgam means mixture. While it’s true that amalgam fillings are made mostly of mercury, that’s not true of the glass isomer. It is a mixture, but it’s mercury-free. It’s usually used to build up the area in the case of a dental crown.

I can understand the confusion. I did want to mention though, it’s important you feel you can trust your dentist. He gave you his word to keep your dental care mercury-free. The fact that you worried he’d lied to you worries me.

Dentists are in an important relationship with their patients. We work in a vulnerable part of your body. Not only that, but you can’t see what we’re doing unless we provide some type of video system that enables you vision.

If there’s something in your gut telling you not to trust your dentist, you’re better served finding a different one. But, based on what you’ve said, he’s done nothing to make me think he can’t be trusted.

This blog is brought to you by Affordable Dentist Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Affordable Dentist Disaster

Is there Mercury in My Amalgam Glass Isomer?

Archives for November 2017