Routine dental exams can detect decay early. Early  detection will allow saving a tooth  with a minimal amount of dental treatment, less time spent at the dental office and saving a lot of money. So, neglect on my part by not following my own advice resulted in my barely being able to save my tooth.

I first noticed some discomfort about a week ago. I had my dental assistant take an X ray of an upper right cuspid. I was shocked to find massive decay. I called my regular dentist down the street but he was unavailable so I saw his associate. This dentist anesthetized the tooth and removed the decay. Unfortunately, the decay had entered the pulp chamber. Therefore, I needed to have root canal therapy.

While this was going on, the other dentist who owned the practice came in and advised that I extract this tooth and place an implant. This would have involved much more therapy and a much higher cost. I returned to my office and called the endodontist next to my office. He saw me the next day and based on his diagnosis that this tooth did not need to be extracted and could be restored, he completed the endodontic therapy. I then called another dentist down the hall from my office. He saw me the same day and was able to restore this tooth with a composite restoration.

Regarding the costs for these procedures, the first dentist gave  me a discount and I paid $ 375.00. The endodontist did not want to charge me anything… professional courtesy. I understand and appreciate the costs associated with running a dental practice. I paid him $1000.00. The dentist down the hall did not want to charge me anything. I bought him a gift card for $500.00.

If I weren’t a dentist and  didn’t  have the knowledge  and quick access to other dentists my situation might have been quite different. I empathize with patients. Finding proper care and being able to trust the dentist are not easily achieved.