Damage assessment
OK, back from the first trip to the dentists. The news isn’t nearly as bad as I expected, which is not to say it’s great news.
I don’t know why I expect to get a full cleaning done last night. At any rate, it didn’t happen. What I got was a full initial consult. Which included a rather full history taking session, 18 separate x-rays of my mouth, complete periodontal assessment, and then review by the dentist.
I expected to hear that I had some bone loss going and that I had severe periodontal problems. Both my parents and my older sister (who goes to the dentist religiously) had those problems. I was instead told I took very good care of my teeth, and the problems I was having were mostly due to not visiting the dentist rather than any particular diseases in progress. I do need a major scaling done, and it’s going to take two visits to get it completed. I’ve also experienced some tooth shifting (normal in adults) that we can address later if I want to. First things first though.
I go back to the dentist Friday, November 16 for my next visit. I was encouraged to bring a personal headset if I wanted so I could listen to music while they’re working on me. They’ll also numb my up pretty thoroughly, even though it isn’t supposed to be painful, just to make things more comfortable for me. I almost told them not to bother with the anesthesia, since it isn’t pain I’m worried about at the dentists. But it wasn’t worth it, and maybe I will be happier doing it their way.
It’s interesting that so many people assume it’s fear of pain that’s kept me from the dentist. It really isn’t. With my medical history, I’ve been through a lot of painful procedures, and that doesn’t make me fear the doctor’s office. It’s far more visceral, and totally inexplicable. It’s the sound of the drill, the sensation of having your teeth scraped, the taste of that horrid fluoride stuff, that “dentist office” odor that is unmistakable.
Regardless – the initial visit and two follow-up visits will total to just under $1000. My insurance will pay no more than half of that. However, if I’d been going to the dentist regularly, I’d probably have paid at least that much over the years anyhow, so I’m not about to complain about the cost now. I’ll just whimper a little bit.
This is proving to be an expensive month.