Ask Dr. LJ, Dental Edition

[mizarchivist]

So, because it's a hassle, I didn't look into this thing I'm about to explain until now, a week before my dentist appointment

Comments

Aww frell

[drwex]

Just no other word. Frelling frell.

[fubar]

Dunno what you need done, but if it's something more than a cleaning you might try Dr Casey Cook in Davis. He's f'in awesome, but that means his client list is longer than a.. well it's really long. Also, I have no idea what insurance they accept. But he's really, really awesome.

I might be grumpy

[mizarchivist]

Yeah, they book something like 5 months out for non-emergencies. IF I had been very clever and decided after the last cleaning that I staying with Gentle wasn't an option, then I'd be all set, but I'm stoopid avoidy and now I get to scramble around like a jackass.

The Yelp folk way love Dr. Cook, though.

[pir]

I loved him too, he was awesome when I lived in Davis.

[surrealestate]

This might sound weird, but seriously, Omnidentix, the dental practice at the Meadow Glen Mall, is actually pretty awesome. I went there when I was in your situation because they took the discount plan I had and got great reviews when I researched, and I'm still going there even though I have dental because I like them enough that it didn't seem worth the hassle of switching.

The front desk crew is a bit of a mixed bag and tend to reek of cigarettes if you go in just after lunch, but the actual practitioners have all been wonderful. They also love babies.

[ETA: And fwiw, in a previous life of dental insurance, I used to go to Casey Cook.]

[arianhwyvar]

My regular dentist recommended me over to Tufts Dental School for my expensive dentistry, because they would do it for half the cost of a private practice. My experience with them was extremely good. I had the simultaneously both most thorough and most gentle cleaning I've ever had, and all the prosthodontics etc people were great. They basically don't take insurance -- if you have coverage, you need to apply for reimbursement on your own -- but the good side is that they tell you exactly how much things will cost, and that is how much they cost. My cleaning was $70. My crowns were a little under a thousand each. Once they've given you a cost, you talk to the finance dept person about payment plans.

[randysmith]

I have heard good things about Tufts Dental School as well (from a friend who used them, i.e. only one hop away from me).

Thirded

[sweetmmeblue]

Also, when I had no insurance and had trouble I went to BU's school of dentistry and they were great.

[mizarchivist]

OK. I've been leery of going to a dental school given the time requirements and what if I get a bad one? But I could just as easily get a bad one who's graduated, eh? And if it's half the cost of standard practices, that's about the same as getting the discount plan. Thanks.

[hammercock]

Yeah, it's worth trying one of the OTC guards first, just to see how it feels.

I've had the expensive, custom-made kinds for like 2 decades now. They do help, but they are frakking expensive and never covered by insurance, not even a little bit.

[mizarchivist]

I did the OTC ones and they made things worse. Either they kept me up because they didn't fit right and the drool was epic, or were too gummy and my subconscious brain saw it as a threat and I bit down harder. I'd wake up with headaches rather than just some jaw pain. So, yeah. I'll very likely have to go the custom made for me route.

[mizarchivist]

Not Pleasant St. Not pleasant at all, I bet. I've had my share of shite dentists, and I won't tolerate another.
I had that kind of mouth guard for a while and my subconscious brain treated it like a foreign invader and I'd wake up with raging headaches from gnawing on it all night. This is why I'm not convinced that a bite guard would be good if that's what I'm doing with the "good" kind. I'm willing to hear their arguments, but that' s a lot of money to dole out if it doesn't. :/