I just got work done on my teeth from a new dentist in my insurance chain... He was a quack. Help!?

Question

Okay, so it goes like this. I had a dentist that I trusted and loved to death, but my new insurance, he doesn't take. I had to move to another dentist. I was supposed to go in today for a root canal, and he started to drill before I was numb. I screamed. The **** hurt. Well, he told me that there was not enough tooth left for a root canal, and that I was going to have to have it pulled.

Here comes the fun part:

He said that it was abcessed, and that I had to take two days of antibiotics before I could get it pulled, and he STARTED TO YELL AT ME. Yes, you heard me correctly. He YELLED at me. Obviously, this is NOT the guy I want doing an extraction.

Well, now that the numbness is starting to wear off, it's starting to hurt like HELL. What makes this MORE complicated is that I'm pregnant. I really can't take anything for the pain except for Tylenol.

I have an emergency extraction scheduled with my old dentist tomorrow. What can I do for the pain in the meantime?

By the way, it's a bicuspid, and it's tooth # 12. Only a fourth of it is missing. Is it really too far gone to save?

Answer 1

Make sure you take the x-ray from the "quack" dentist to your old dentist if he doesn't have one or you will be charged for a new one.
I would call in the morning and ask if you need to wait a few days to have that tooth pulled so the antibiotics can kick in. You don't want to pay for an exam where he tells you that then have to go back in and pay for the extraction, too.
Definately check w/ your OB that you can take the prescribed antibiotic.
In the meantime, when you rest, keep your head above your hear (lay on pillows), this helps with the blood flow and pain. Take the antibioics on schedule (if deemed safe by OB).
You can also ask the dentist you like if he will sign up to accept your insurance. If you're a good patient, he may do it for you. If your insurance is through a large employer in your area, remind him about the many employees there that would be potential patients if he accepted the insurance.
Good luck.
I hope you feel better soon.

Answer 2

Depends on what the xrays showed. Even though only a small part of the tooth is gone, if it's cracked all the way through, it will have to be pulled. You may not notice it--it can be a hairline fracture. In that case--it will just split more if they try a root canal. If it were me----I would go ahead and have it pulled instead of trying to save part of a tooth and then get either an implant or a "Maryland" bridge.

Answer 3

Oh yeah your having a great time, I am not sure if you can take anything else but call your obstetrician and see what they say. It may be that your tooth needs to be pulled and usually they would know this before hand but there are some things they can't tell until they look more closely. Had that happen to me once. Unless you need dental care often I would stick with the one you had before. I have had a not to good one and now one I like and will stay with her.