Why are my teeth not part of my body?
(Pardon me for a minute while I rant about the health care system as it pertains to my mouth--I just went to the dentist today. )
Why is it that if I have a problem with my toe, I might end up at a specialist, still covered by my insurance, but if I have a problem with my tooth, suddenly my mouth is disengaged from my body and thrown over an imaginary fence into a totally separate profession with totally separate insurance? What is wrong with this picture?? Am I the only person who thinks this is idiotic? Am I the only person who thinks our entire health care system needs to be fixed?
Oh. Right. Well I mean in reference to teeth!
Sheesh.
So anyway, I went to the dentist today. Actually, I went to an endodontist. Yeah, the root canal specialist. I hadn't seen a dentist in so long and am so unversed in dental stuff that I didn't even know there was a such thing as an endodontist. Those of you who have had root canals are shuddering every time I say the word endodontist. Endodontist.
Well the endodontist didn't take long to tell me that yes, I do need a root canal. And a crown. Of course. Do people ever end up hearing good news from him? Like, Congratulations! You don't need a root canal and you've won a NEW CAR!! I doubt it. That's why I was sent there, because I have a cracked tooth that needs a root canal.
But here's the kicker: the doctor tells me that even though I have great teeth otherwise, the root canal and the crown might not do the trick. There's a good possibility they might not work, and I might lose the tooth anyway and have wasted a pile of money on it for nothing. So my other option, he suggests, is to have the tooth extracted. It's my molar and I wouldn't really miss it so terribly.
I leave the dentist feeling a little down. Darn tooth. I brushed you obsessively. I floss...sometimes. I did my best to care for you even when I didn't have dental insurance. And what for? To get a cracked tooth because I clench my jaw while I'm asleep. Something I can't even help. Ugh (again).
Now I'm faced with a quandary. Do I fork over big bucks I don't really have to save a tooth that might not be saveable in the end? Or do I have it yanked out and spend the rest of my life with a tooth-handicap?
What would you do?
3 comments:
As a man who can identify with tooth related insurance issues you have my sympathy. I, much like Shawn and Seth, have some serious crowding and bite issues. How exactly Mark received his lovely, be it goofy, smile we can only guess. Anyhow I couldn’t agree more given amount paid in I would like something other than high-five in regard to my oral procedures. With reference to your misfortuned tooth, if it is the last guy the back I would opt to take it out. I don’t think the general public will be any the wiser and if you grind your teeth then you will not have to worry about inadvertently causing future damaged to what you just paid to repaired. That being said if it is not the last tooth I personally would attempt a rescue. In the end it is an investment in your wellbeing and if you are made uncomfortable with a missing tooth then saving said tooth may well be worth it.
– All the best, and good luck!
Paul
Yank it! I've had too many friends go the whole root canal/crown route, only to be back to the dreaded endodontist a few weeks later with a messed up crown and all the money down the drain.
I have to go with Paul's recommendation. Then get a guard to protect your jaw and teeth at night. I agree with the ridiculousness of the separation of dental and health care. There are direct correlations between tooth and gum care and health issues (heart disease, for example). Hope everything goes as well as possible.
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