Do dentists enjoy making you suffer?

[Mamala Bay]

Originally Posted By: opus1
There are "sedation dentists", for regular dental visits not the heavy-duty extractions, but like JHZR2 said, anesthesia is not good for you.


They numb the area where the tooth is being extracted. It was stronger ... than normal .... if there is something stronger than a anesthesia I haven't experience it.

Can you name Dentists that do these procedures as I would thing there are regulation how far they can go.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
anesthesia is not good for you. There is also significant risk related to going in and out.


A workmate's BIL just had a double knee reconstruction while conscious.

Epidural, plus sufficient sedation that they could talk to him, and he could hear the whole process, just didn't care.

 

[SecondMonkey]

I'm definately going to have to do some dentist shopping. These people made me feel like a cow on an assembly line.

Thankfully the guy who did the pulling wasn't bad at it, but that's all he does I guess. I don't have "a dentist", just a bunch of random people who supposedly have credentials and happen to have an opening that day...

Honestly though, I'd risk going out and not coming back, so that I never heard that crunching noise...but nobody offered.

Honestly I had no idea it was going to be so violent - but I'm glad nobody warned me!

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: SecondMonkey
I don't have "a dentist", just a bunch of random people who supposedly have credentials and happen to have an opening that day...


That sounds like Aspen Dental! (I guess they're a chain so there's a remote chance someone will get the joke.)

I got KO'd the only time in my life for 3 wisdom teeth removed by an OS. The drugs are nice in that they don't wear off until several hours later when you're moping around the house. You're still happy when you pay the bill and walk to your ride.

As for the wierd holes in my mouth and those groovy stitches my tongue couldn't quite comprehend... beer was a great mouthwash. The carbonation floated food debris out of the way and maybe the alcohol numbed any pain.

 

[opus1]

Originally Posted By: Mamala Bay
Originally Posted By: opus1
There are "sedation dentists", for regular dental visits not the heavy-duty extractions, but like JHZR2 said, anesthesia is not good for you.


They numb the area where the tooth is being extracted. It was stronger ... than normal .... if there is something stronger than a anesthesia I haven't experience it.

Can you name Dentists that do these procedures as I would thing there are regulation how far they can go.


This is one place "local" to me: Sedation Dentistry

I've never been there, or to any other sedation dentist, but they've (in general, not this practice) have been advertising like crazy around here lately.

There was also a big uproar about 2 years ago in Chicago where a 6-year old was accidentally killed by sedation while at the dentist's. Maybe it's just more popular in this area? I'm definitely not interested in this, though.

 

[fdcg27]

I had my wisdom teeth extracted by an oral surgeon, who told me that he would not do all of them in one visit unless I took a general rather than a local.
I am leary of general anesthesia, but I agreed to it.
Got an IV and some nice drugs, and I came around just after the guy was finished.
I didn't even know that it had happened.
My usual dentist and his hygenists are really good and careful.
Even better, the hygenist who always sees me is young, cute and sweet, and is very careful to do a thorough job without inflicting any real pain.
I always advise people unhappy with their dentist to see mine.
If I weren't happy with the guy's work, I wouldn't still be seeing him after more than twenty years.
My point is that if you have had bad experience with your dentist, check around with people you know, and find a better one.
Also, whatever your fears, do not neglect your teeth.
Regular cleanings, checkups and restorations now will save your teeth over the long run.

 

[Gary Allan]

Most traditional practices are gone. The dentists have retired. What's now in place is a business model that's geared to profits. I guess you could almost call them dental franchises. All the insurance is processed and you're paying up front for all services. The traditional dentist was a dental therapist that cultivated your restoration and maintenance and spaced out the appointments and payments within certain sensible limits. Now it's a process where they try and sell you as much as they can ..at ever escalating fees.

The standard cleaning used to be the full descaling under "covered by insurance" ..now the standard is superficial and the "deep root scraping" is an added fee ..which ..is what the entire process cost and formerly covered by insurance (cleaning and xrays). Funny how that works.

I can't afford dental work even with insurance. It's emergency repair only.

 

[Cutehumor]

last time I went to the dentist two years ago, I went for a routine cleaning. It was my 2nd trip there for a routine cleaning. I got a different dental hygienist and he tried to upsell me this Arestin anitibacterial treatment for my gums. This treatment cost over a $1000 that I would have to pay out of pocket, my insurance didn't cover it at all. he said my gums were bad and he wouldn't clean my teeth until I had that treatment. I walked out and haven't gone back.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. I can't imagine not practicing good oral hygiene and going to the dentist twice a year for checkups, cleaning, etc. On occasion I see people with nasty looking teeth (rot, tarter, etc) and don't understand how they can tolerate a mouth like that.

I guess that's why that at 64 I still have all my original teeth and have not had a cavity in 25 or more years. I've gone to the same dentist for over 20 years now (previous dentist retired) and have a great dentist/patient relationship.

 

[Gary Allan]

Well, you're in good luck to have a LTR with a dentist you like.

The formative years of your fundamental dental treatment were under better practices (not to be confused with technologies).

The fortunate:misfortunate thing is that dental care isn't like medical care. Insurance has made them further out of reach than they've ever been.

Oh, and the reason why you see someone without the million $$ smile ..too much month at the end of the money. The out of pocket co-pays that current BUSINESS models demand takes a back seat to roofs and heating systems ..which are far more essential and cost less. They get in line first.


Edit: I told the fine dentist at "The Dental Spa" that she was 10 years too late for the Starbucks business model to be employed. They bought out my last retiring dentist and destroyed all the patient relationships he had formed. Fired all the employees that were too expensive ...etc..etc..etc.

 

[wander2039]

Good dentists and doctors are hard to find.. we finally got lucky and found good ones including a oral surgeon. Always come out better than we went in. Half the time when the dentist does something we have a hard time believing him.. that quick and painless. Going to get my bottom wisdom teeth pulled next week.. hopefully that'll be the last surgery for me.

 

[eljefino]

A few years ago I got dragged into a dentist. Wrote on the clipboard questionnaire "wife made me go" under "why are you here today". Despite my lengthy period between "confessions" my teeth were in good shape. Genetics have a lot to do with tooth health as well... one can't necessarily preach what works for them as the cureall for everyone.

 

[CivicFan]

I think this depends on the dentist. Once I had 1 wisdom tooth pulled and it killed me.

A few years later my now current dentist pulled the rest of the wisdom teeth and I didn't have any issues with pain or the procedure - I didn't even know he had pulled them when he was done.

I also had a root canal done. It was a 2 hour procedure and it was not unpleasant at all. No pain or anything. The roots had to be filled twice because there was an abscess but it was the best dental procedure ever.

So, if your dentist is torturing you, find another one. If you are in central Indiana and are having a hard time finding a dentist that doesn't torture you, I would highly recommend "Generations in Dentistry" in Carmel.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
"Generations in Dentistry" in Carmel.


Hasn't that name been changed to "Caramel"?

(from distant and more wholesome childhood memories)

Kraft Caramel Carmel apples ..just right for Halloween

 

[mechtech2]

Forget about pain..
What makes dentists ask you questions when you mouth is pried open and their hands are in it?

 

[Cutehumor]

what about seeing a woman dentist, maybe they will be gentler??

 

[fdcg27]

If we all settle for McDentistry, that's what we'll be stuck with, not unlike the way in which the Olive Gardens of the world have driven out most of the good, moderately priced local resturants, and the Walmarts have driven out the local hardware/variety stores.
IMHO, the best way to keep dentists in private practice is to patronize those who are.
I would no more patronize a dental clinic in which the dentisits are salaried emplyees than I would patronize Walmart or Jiffy Lube for all my automotive maintenace and repair needs.
I am fortunate in that I have good dental insurance, and I can afford the out-of-pockets for myself and my (currently unemployed, in case anyone needs a CPA/MBA with both industry accounting and university teaching experience) wife.

 

[Gary Allan]

The thing is most of the old practices are being bought out for their patient list. The "business" model is hard to escape these days. While not a distinct marker for the "business" model, the taking of credit card would be a good indicator. To have enough traffic to justify the service, there has to be a substantial dependence upon it. Just like a car dealership service dept. Why do they charge so much? Because people have credit cards ..and they accept them. You just invert that to charging so much and accepting credit cards to enable people to use you.

 

[fdcg27]

I understand your logic, Gary, but I also think that we get the service we are willing to accept.
If enough people would insist upon having a relationship with an individual dentist in private practice, the business model of large clinics where you might never have seen the dentist or hygenist working in your mouth before would be doomed to fail.
I have a woman who reports to me who has an absess.
She has not regularly seen a dentist in the past, and has taken her problem to a large dental clinic.
I would really hate to be in a position where I had a real problem, and had no one who would work me in that very day, whom I both knew and trusted.
I have had two perio absesses in the past, and they brought eye watering pain. It was well worth whatever the marginal cost has been over the years to be able to call a private practice, get worked in first thing in the morning, and see someone who knows my history well, who has earned my trust and respect.
Another woman I work with needs a crown due to a cracked tooth. She was not even scheduled to have an impression taken for three weeks from her initial visit. Based upon what she has told me it would cost her after insurance, she isn't getting a deal, either.

 

[Gary Allan]

My dental practice only has one dentist. She's a former university professor (doctor of dentistry?) and went private. It's still a franchise ..so to speak in that it's a "packaged" business model with Starbucks type care. It's an up sell every step of the way ..and you mean nothing beyond what you can pay on demand. It's probably some investment for some "group". The capital outlay for a practice is pretty steep. They probably manage that cost over some longer term for some tax thing ...blah..blah ..but it's still sterile $$$ and cents.

There is no relationship to form. She's not a member of the community. She wasn't born there ..doesn't live there. She doesn't have "patients" ..she has customers. Good customers are the ones that can afford to pay for your services ...and the rest ..well they aren't really around to ponder over.