Stuff I'm Surprised I Like, Plus a Dentist I'm Surprised I Hate
You know what I've watched recently that was unexpectedly complex, layered and just downright good?
Also, Dentistry has begun trying to rampage through my life--and savings--like Godzilla through Tokyo. I haven't been to the dentist in ten years, easy, so I have very little experience with how to manage these things. I'd love (as always) some feedback.
See, I got insurance this year for the first time in a decade. And Not Going To The Dentist is like holding on to a helium balloon (to paraphrase Withnail and I): you know you need to let go but you don't want to fall, and the longer you hold on, the worse letting go is going to be. And also, for me, certain activities had--via my parents' attitudes toward them--been drilled into my brain as horrible, soulless monsters that will jump out at you from nowhere, hold you hostage, force you to go through hours of torture for no reason and wrench away all your hard-earned money, probably right before you were about to finally spend it on a long-overdue something to ease the awful drudgery of life. These events included the Dentist, The Doctor, and Needing A Car.
Those Who Know And Care About My Wellfare told me these were mistaken attitudes, and that I should hie myself to the dentist posthaste. It wouldn't be like that now.
Those Who Know...didn't.
Let me catch you up: I chose a dentist that my friend praised highly, mostly because he apparently specialized in fearful patients and various forms of sedation for dental work. About the only reason I was able to let go of the helium balloon was with the idea that sedation and gentle dentistry could soften the hellacious fall; after 10 years of neglect, I knew I was in for it. Not only that, but the guy was voted "Best Dentist In Town" or some such by Burbank Magazine. All signs pointed to good.
The people at the office were exceedingly nice. They seem to do everything in the most top-notch, high-tech way possible: digital xrays (not film), digital photos of all your teeth, tons of consultations and explaining, nice little folders to contain all your copies of everything, etc. So they're not of a scrimping mindset.
I had a consultation and they said I didn't have the worst situation they'd ever seen, but quite a lot of my old fillings had cracks and decay underneath them. They said probably three, four fillings replaced on each side, plus one situation which would require a porcelain overlay (kind of a half-crown). They initially presented me with an estimate that made my head spin -- $4000 AFTER insurance, all out of my pocket. But when I looked closer, they were reaching-- $500 of that bill was just for suggested *whitening.* Oh, okay, bite me. I'm not paying for that. Another huge chunk was for some oral surgery/gum grafting I figured I could put off till next year. That left about $1400 for all the filling replacement. Okay, that I agreed should probably happen, and the amount was manageable. I agreed to that.
I went in for the first big appointment. I was supposed to just take some pills that'd make me slightly loopy so I wouldn't mind the injections, which are the part that scare me the most. I had been told that if that wasn't enough and I was still fearful, there was an option to include an intramuscular sedation (a shot so I...wouldn't mind the shots. Hello, Logic Police?) I didn't figure the second option would be necessary, as I'm not really that fearful, but I appreciated the first.
Well, when I got there the intramuscular was no longer optional--it was suddenly necessary (and $150 more) to help "dry my mouth out" to help the procedures. I didn't understand, but let them do it anyway (which I HATE.) I ended up looped out of my fucking mind, when I'd had no intention to be. I was also not a particularly cooperative patient in this state, apparently, as I flailed around and ended up biting the hell out of my cheek and tongue.
But still, once I woke up I was okay. I hadn't really been that uncomfortable. But I would be: the evening after the procedure, the dentist calls and says they found way more decay in my teeth than they'd been able to see from the x-rays. All the projected fillings had instead been fitted for porcelain overlays as well. Someone would call to talk to me about the change in cost.
Okay, difference in cost: 1 filling, $199. One porcelain overlay? $885. EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY FIVE DOLLARS. EACH.
I agreed to $1400 for everything, and paid up front. Now the bill for just one side of my face was roughly $4000, and could I pay the extra $800 at the next appointment? Then they'd talk about the other side, which could easily end up with the same problems.
FUCKING WHAAAT?!?!?!?
I had at one point signed something stating that I knew their estimate was just that, an estimate, and that their projected price could change once they got in and saw what was there for themselves. However, it does not say anywhere in there that they had carte blanche permission to do those things without running it by me first. I realize that at the time that they found this change in situation, it wasn't exactly an opportune time for a chat with me--but that seems almost more slimy. Help yourself to a huge handful of my money while I'm out?? I also know that it wouldn't have been exactly easy to just close up shop at that moment and say "hey, this is what we think--get back to us, will you?" But still--don't I get a chance to weigh the options before you quadruple my bill? Might there not have been another way to go about this?
So my goal now is to prevent further hemmoraging. My dad thinks I'm probably locked into paying for finishing up what they've started (unless I want to go to court or something, which I don't). My overlays are only temporary and need to be finished. He also thinks the thing I signed might actually protect them enough to let them do what they did. But I feel SO freaking blackmailed, baited and switched. Really, it's all exacerbated due to the fact that I'm accruing savings for the first time in my life, finally watching my money grow, and I've been feeling protective of it, afraid of one of those raiding life monsters my parents always felt were out there. And now this feels like one. And I'm going to fix it and it's just another transaction and my money is continuing its happy, plentiful growth.
But I'd just like to know--do I have a complaint here? Should I be able to protest how this went down, or is this just What Happens when you dare cross the threshhold of a dentist? What's everyone's experience? Also, they want to put me out AGAIN--this time with an IV--to finish the overlays. I no longer want to be out while these folks are making decisions. I've been told that when a crown is put on, you don't even need a shot. But overlays might be different--has anyone ever had one? I was told that the tooth needed to be ground down in order to make room for them, and there's FOUR, so maybe I should go with it? Should I? Should I not? AUGH! I fucking hate that I've let these people into my business now.
And in other news...um...they brought in donuts today. :) Probably my dentist's idea.
- Black Snake Moan
- Eddie Izzard (and Minnie Driver)'s new show, The Riches
- and blow me over with a feather, Jeff Goldblum in Raines. (REALLY liked it. Likeable, fascinating performance from JG, snappy dialogue and very visually playful and interesting. Who knew?)
Also, Dentistry has begun trying to rampage through my life--and savings--like Godzilla through Tokyo. I haven't been to the dentist in ten years, easy, so I have very little experience with how to manage these things. I'd love (as always) some feedback.
See, I got insurance this year for the first time in a decade. And Not Going To The Dentist is like holding on to a helium balloon (to paraphrase Withnail and I): you know you need to let go but you don't want to fall, and the longer you hold on, the worse letting go is going to be. And also, for me, certain activities had--via my parents' attitudes toward them--been drilled into my brain as horrible, soulless monsters that will jump out at you from nowhere, hold you hostage, force you to go through hours of torture for no reason and wrench away all your hard-earned money, probably right before you were about to finally spend it on a long-overdue something to ease the awful drudgery of life. These events included the Dentist, The Doctor, and Needing A Car.
Those Who Know And Care About My Wellfare told me these were mistaken attitudes, and that I should hie myself to the dentist posthaste. It wouldn't be like that now.
Those Who Know...didn't.
Let me catch you up: I chose a dentist that my friend praised highly, mostly because he apparently specialized in fearful patients and various forms of sedation for dental work. About the only reason I was able to let go of the helium balloon was with the idea that sedation and gentle dentistry could soften the hellacious fall; after 10 years of neglect, I knew I was in for it. Not only that, but the guy was voted "Best Dentist In Town" or some such by Burbank Magazine. All signs pointed to good.
The people at the office were exceedingly nice. They seem to do everything in the most top-notch, high-tech way possible: digital xrays (not film), digital photos of all your teeth, tons of consultations and explaining, nice little folders to contain all your copies of everything, etc. So they're not of a scrimping mindset.
I had a consultation and they said I didn't have the worst situation they'd ever seen, but quite a lot of my old fillings had cracks and decay underneath them. They said probably three, four fillings replaced on each side, plus one situation which would require a porcelain overlay (kind of a half-crown). They initially presented me with an estimate that made my head spin -- $4000 AFTER insurance, all out of my pocket. But when I looked closer, they were reaching-- $500 of that bill was just for suggested *whitening.* Oh, okay, bite me. I'm not paying for that. Another huge chunk was for some oral surgery/gum grafting I figured I could put off till next year. That left about $1400 for all the filling replacement. Okay, that I agreed should probably happen, and the amount was manageable. I agreed to that.
I went in for the first big appointment. I was supposed to just take some pills that'd make me slightly loopy so I wouldn't mind the injections, which are the part that scare me the most. I had been told that if that wasn't enough and I was still fearful, there was an option to include an intramuscular sedation (a shot so I...wouldn't mind the shots. Hello, Logic Police?) I didn't figure the second option would be necessary, as I'm not really that fearful, but I appreciated the first.
Well, when I got there the intramuscular was no longer optional--it was suddenly necessary (and $150 more) to help "dry my mouth out" to help the procedures. I didn't understand, but let them do it anyway (which I HATE.) I ended up looped out of my fucking mind, when I'd had no intention to be. I was also not a particularly cooperative patient in this state, apparently, as I flailed around and ended up biting the hell out of my cheek and tongue.
But still, once I woke up I was okay. I hadn't really been that uncomfortable. But I would be: the evening after the procedure, the dentist calls and says they found way more decay in my teeth than they'd been able to see from the x-rays. All the projected fillings had instead been fitted for porcelain overlays as well. Someone would call to talk to me about the change in cost.
Okay, difference in cost: 1 filling, $199. One porcelain overlay? $885. EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY FIVE DOLLARS. EACH.
I agreed to $1400 for everything, and paid up front. Now the bill for just one side of my face was roughly $4000, and could I pay the extra $800 at the next appointment? Then they'd talk about the other side, which could easily end up with the same problems.
FUCKING WHAAAT?!?!?!?
I had at one point signed something stating that I knew their estimate was just that, an estimate, and that their projected price could change once they got in and saw what was there for themselves. However, it does not say anywhere in there that they had carte blanche permission to do those things without running it by me first. I realize that at the time that they found this change in situation, it wasn't exactly an opportune time for a chat with me--but that seems almost more slimy. Help yourself to a huge handful of my money while I'm out?? I also know that it wouldn't have been exactly easy to just close up shop at that moment and say "hey, this is what we think--get back to us, will you?" But still--don't I get a chance to weigh the options before you quadruple my bill? Might there not have been another way to go about this?
So my goal now is to prevent further hemmoraging. My dad thinks I'm probably locked into paying for finishing up what they've started (unless I want to go to court or something, which I don't). My overlays are only temporary and need to be finished. He also thinks the thing I signed might actually protect them enough to let them do what they did. But I feel SO freaking blackmailed, baited and switched. Really, it's all exacerbated due to the fact that I'm accruing savings for the first time in my life, finally watching my money grow, and I've been feeling protective of it, afraid of one of those raiding life monsters my parents always felt were out there. And now this feels like one. And I'm going to fix it and it's just another transaction and my money is continuing its happy, plentiful growth.
But I'd just like to know--do I have a complaint here? Should I be able to protest how this went down, or is this just What Happens when you dare cross the threshhold of a dentist? What's everyone's experience? Also, they want to put me out AGAIN--this time with an IV--to finish the overlays. I no longer want to be out while these folks are making decisions. I've been told that when a crown is put on, you don't even need a shot. But overlays might be different--has anyone ever had one? I was told that the tooth needed to be ground down in order to make room for them, and there's FOUR, so maybe I should go with it? Should I? Should I not? AUGH! I fucking hate that I've let these people into my business now.
And in other news...um...they brought in donuts today. :) Probably my dentist's idea.