Should I Really Fire My Dentist?

Yes! Any dentist I have ever gone to when I've had an infection clears the infection FIRST before they do any other work. You should have had the antibiotics right away and the root canal about a week later.

I NEVER opt for a root canal. IMO they are a waste of time and money. Most people I know who have had them end up losing the tooth within a year or two anyway.

And how is it that she allegedly looked at x-rays and said the cavities aren't that bad but 3 days later, they are bad enough to require an emergency root canal. Either they were that bad or they weren't - either way doesn't sound like he/she really knows what they are looking for on an x-ray.

I would definitely switch dentists! (And I would let him/her know that are you and why.)

You need a new dentist.

I'm with Tori.

I put it into context by switching professions. Say you have a leak in your roof. You hire roofers. They fix the leak. Next rain, you notice water still. Come to find out the leak they fixed wasn't the only leak.

Doesn't mean they were bad workers. Just means they don't have the crystal ball to know exactly everything that's going on.

You paid the dentist for her expertise in dentistry. Without some sort of mind meld to know exactly what is going on in your body - she did the best she could.

Whether you want to switch is totally up to you. But I don't read anything that makes me think your dentist performed sub-standard care.

Hope your tooth feels better! :)

I would not go back to that Dentist.

No Dentist I have ever met would do anything to an infected tooth, ever! They give you antibiotics and send you home. Then schedule the procedure for after infection has been cleared up. 2 reasons - 1)pain meds have no affect when you have an infection. They can't get you numb. 2) infection can spread if they perform a procedure.

Also...

A root canal removes the entire nerve so you feel nothing in that tooth ever again. If she didn't remove the nerve, she didn't do a root canal!

Okay, I guess I'm in the minority here. I don't really see why you'd get a new dentist over this. If this was at the end of a long list of other issues, then yeah sure, but honestly, she offered you a more intense therapy option that you declined. You knowingly took a chance, which is understandable, but it didn't work out. I also get why she wanted to be cautious with the antibiotics, but yeah, maybe she could have mentioned that at the beginning.

Did those chunks of tartar ever get cleaned out? If not, then that could be still be causing you pain and could easily lead to infection or gum issues.

Maybe you should get a second opinion, but I have to say I see no obvious reason for being pissed and demanding a refund.

This all sounds normal/professional. I've had root canals and they did cause some pain but not to the extent you're describing. Perhaps I have a higher pain threshold that you have. It may take more pain for me to feel it that it does for you. Your dentist started out conservatively when treating you. She did suggest a deep cleaning which you refused. That may still be the cause of the pain.

(S)he started out conservatively and has advanced as the first treatment didn't work. She doesn't have a way of knowing what will work and what won't. She doesn't know what is actually causing the pain until she tries various ways of fixing it. This all sounds normal to me. I'd stay with her.

I had a great deal of pain with a molar. The dentist said I needed a root canal. I went to an endodontist and started a root canal. As he worked he discovered that my tooth was cracked below the gum line making a root canal inappropriate. The crack didn't show up on an x-ray. I still had to pay several hundred dollars for as much work as the endodontist had done. Then I had to go back to my regular dentist to have the tooth pulled. I ended up with a dry socket and that is the worst pain, yet.

It's a process to find what is causing the pain and then another process to find how to fix the pain. You're part way thru the process. If you went to a different dentist you'd start from the beginning. I'd let this dentist continue until (s)he is able to figure out your pain and fix it.

Never had a root canal before antibiotics. I would find someone new. If the pain doesn't go away in a couple of days you might need to see a specialist. I had to after a root canal (remember when my face was all swollen?) and they found a hairline fracture in the tooth and pulled it. Pain gone!

To be honest, this happens with root canals sometimes. I would not fire your dentist. I would for sure get this resolved before trying a new one.

It is true that sometimes they can't tell how big a cavity you have until they get in there. And she tried the conservative approach with cleaning to try to save you $700 in case it wasn't really that bad. I have had dentists do this before, and they are good dentists. Thank GOODNESS one of them did it because he was right - I didn't need a root canal after all, and I still have that tooth with a porcelain inlay, and no root canal.

I disagree about the refund, I really do. If she does charge you for another cap, THAT'S when you say you will not pay for more than the one cap. I doubt she will bill you for that. If you have tartar chunks, you should consider getting that cleaned at your next 6 months check-up - tarter can cause gingervitis and eat at your gum line, and you don't want that.

If you want a second opinion, get a copy of your xrays and see another dentist that comes highly recommended and tell him or her that you want a second opinion regarding your dental work. Be honest and tell the new dentist that you aren't trying to "down" your dentist, but this kind of threw you for a loop and you want to know if your mouth is healthy and okay. See what the new dentist says.

Having been in your shoes and not having to actually have a root canal after all, I am seeing it differently than your friends. And honestly, you shouldn't have waited when it continued to hurt. You should have gotten back in there right away because infections spread.

I really hope things get better for you quick - nothing like tooth pain and back pain to make you wish you could just go to sleep til it's over!

All my best,
Dawn

I think she was working backwards.

When my DH had a crown put on, he did need to have it adjusted. However, I think she should have treated you with ABs first. Frankly, I'd take your Rx to your OB and ask if they are OK. I wouldn't trust the dentist to know.

If I had an infected tooth, I would have expected antibiotics first. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I had antibiotics and pain killers upfront. Now, I understand her reluctance to prescribe something, but that's when she should have consulted with your OB.

I can understand being conservative, but it may also be that you and she don't communicate effectively. I have asked for other doctors both for my child's dentist and for our cat's vet. If you don't understand the treatment then it's not being communicated clearly. You need to know what she's doing and why. My DH changed orthodontists because the first one didn't communicate...because he was shady. If you can't trust your caregiver, you need to find one you can.

If the dentist's last name starts with a Z, & she is in the Highlands in Arlington, I would get my records & run!!!

I don't honestly know, but when I had root canal the pain was immediately better.

YES, get a new dentist immediately, you should never stay
with someone have question about.
remember, they (dentist, doctors, etc) are working for you.
when you go and five them your business, you are
giving them your hard earned money for their work.

A good rule to go by, is:
if it is the right choice,
you don't question it,
you know it...

Same thing happened to me. Just chalked it up to once of those thiings
that happen. You are pregnant so I am sure that played into her decision.
Have you been happy with her in the past? Only you can make the decision to leave her or not. If she had served me well in the past, I would
not leave.

As I started reading your post I was thinking to myself "run away", up to the part of "you are pregnant"
Seeing that you are pregnant and she wanted to hold on on the antibiotics shows that she does have some sort of knowledge and cares for your baby. But the fact that she didn't see how deep the cavities concerns me.
Don't fire her yet, give her another chance, but if she does another idiotic mistake; find yourself someone else.

There are dentist on every corner these days. Find one that you can trust. My DH and I had one when we moved here that we still call Dr Death!
There are specials and flyers in the mail every week, get all you can from your new dentist. I know that we all need to cut out uncalled for antibiotics but that's about colds not serious conditions.