A few days ago, I received an email from the Aspen Dental asking me my thoughts on my recent visit to their office. I am sure they were not prepared for what I told them. I informed them they advertise free exams and x-rays to lure those without insurance as a ploy to line their pockets by trying to perform unnecessary procedures. It may have worked with others, but it did not work with me. I have to admit it almost came close. I have been scammed by doctors, even with my ten-year employment with Capital Blue Cross. I cannot help but think how many clueless people are out there allowing dentists to do unnecessary work on their teeth. This is just so evil. Tooth pain is one of the most excruciating pains anyone could experience. To think a professional doctor would subject another human being to such pain for monetary gain is just so unbelievable, but it happens every day.
Years ago, I remember watching a program on 20/20 about dentists drilling healthy teeth for profit. This triggered a memory from my childhood. My mother would take all four kids to the same dentist faithfully every six months. I remember all of us walking out with four or more cavities each time. Now tell me how on earth is it even possible that each one of us had four cavities every six months? Now all of my molars are nothing but fillings. There is hardly any tooth left on any of them.
After watching 20/20’s special, every time a dentist would tell me I had a cavity, I would switch dentists. Most dentists would get upset with me when I would ask them to show me on the x-ray where the cavity was because I was aware it would appear as a gray shadow on the x-ray of the tooth. I have argued with some telling them I did not see a cavity, so I would refuse to let them drill my teeth. Every time they would say the cavity was so small, but would get bigger if I would let it go. I would then go to a new dentist for my next six-month check up and would walk out of the new dental office cavity free. Simply amazing! I finally found an honest dentist, but it took many years of weeding out the many dishonest ones.
About fifteen years ago, a dentist told me I had a cavity underneath a filling. Even though I was not experiencing any pain I allowed him to remove the filling, do his drilling, and replace it with a new filling. Months later, I was at the Endodontist getting my first root canal. The pain was worse than giving birth! For ten years, dentists would tell me I needed a crown or the tooth was going to crack resulting in losing the tooth, which never happened. I told them unless they were going to do it for free I did not want to hear it. I did eventually get a crown on the tooth when I had dental insurance covering half of the cost. Then a few years ago another dentist told me again I had a cavity underneath a filling on another tooth I also was not experiencing any pain with. So what did I stupidly do? I again allowed another dentist to remove the filling, do his drilling, and replace it with a new filling.
Within two days, I was at another Endodontist getting another root canal. They put in the post and core for the crown, but I had Medical Assistance at the time and the dentist told me it would be a waste to put a crown on it because there was not enough room, therefore the crown would just pop off. I said to him, “Isn’t that why you grind the tooth down to make room for the crown, but he still refused to do the crown. Then I asked him why did he do the post and core if he was not going to attach a crown to it? He walked out of the room without answering me . Before I could get in for a second opinion with another dentist, I lost my dental coverage.
Now I have to pay for the $809 crown when my insurance would have covered it if this crooked dentist would have not been greedy. I guess the money the State was paying him for a crown was not enough for him to want to do the work, but the root canal and the post and core was compared to just pulling the tooth. If he feels the money is not enough for any of his services, then he should not accept patients with this coverage. What a jerk! Trust me he will be reported to the Dental Board. Besides getting his license revoked, he should also have to pay for my crown.
Again, when you are experiencing symptoms ALWAYS refer to your Patient Prescription Information sheet researching the side effects. The sheet clearly states it is not a complete list of side effects, so it is also a good idea to do some additional online research.
Also once children get their adult molars, dentist can put sealants over the molars protecting them from decay. Just remember these sealants wear off over time, so they may have to be reapplied. This is something you should talk to your dentist about. It will save your child from getting cavities and they will greatly appreciate it especially when they are older. Due to sealants, my daughter never had a cavity until she was pregnant as an adult. Our dentist never informed me of the sealants needing reapplying every so often. If I would have known this, maybe she still would not have any cavities.
I hope this article saves someone from tooth pain. I also hope it saves someone from not being deceived by a doctor who is supposed to be concerned about your well-being.
(Part 1) | Part 2