The Dreaded Dentist Appointment

This is going to be a long one, friends. So get ready.

Growing up, I loved the dentist. I went to every scheduled appointment. Then, I needed braces and with that came a palatal expander, extractions (4 of my molars and then all my wisdom teeth), this strange procedure where they cut all the fibers around your teeth to prevent them from going back to the way they were after the braces were off, whitenings, cleanings...you name it. Somehow, all those orthodontist appointments and trips to the dentist for those extractions gave me this MAJOR anxiety when it comes to going to the dentist.

Don't get me wrong. I take really good care of my teeth. I know the long road it took to get them to where they are. I brush, I floss, and I brush some more. My gums barely bleed and I suffer from no pain whatsoever.

BUT, Ryan pays every month to the insurance company for our family to visit the dentist for preventative care and after 18 months (I know, I'm bad) of putting it off...I went. I found a dentist office right down the street and made my appointment. I went in (nervous as can be) and knew that I was only going to get x-rays and a consultation. I was freaking.

They did the x-rays (I survived) and then it was time for the part where they probe your gums and call out numbers ranging from 1-5 (5 being BAD because that either means your bone is deteriorating or you have severe gingivitis.) So there I lie in the chair and this dentist (who couldn't have been older than 25) starts calling out "5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 4, 5...2, 2, 5...." So I'm freaking, right? She finishes the probing and says to me, "Maria, you are going to need a full debridement." I ask her if it is necessary and if it will hurt. She tells me I have gingivitis, bleeding gums and that they can give me anesthetic for the pain.

Reluctantly, I make the appointments for this deep cleaning, leave the office with nothing but terror in my mind and go home to show Ryan the estimate. Ryan tells me that I don't need all that, he calls the insurance to find out why they won't cover it all and asks me over and over if it's something I really need. My history at the dentist isn't a good one...(when I was in San Diego and went to the dentist, I ended up spending about $180 on tooth paste and a mouthwash because they said I NEEDED it...Ryan was not a happy hubby.)

Well, I trusted the dentist. Why? Because they are doctors and you should be able to trust them. I tell Ryan that they wouldn't tell me to do something I didn't need and nervously go about the rest of the week anticipating the dreaded appointment.

The day before the appointment, I start to have second thoughts. I research the procedure and realize that I am not a good candidate for it so I start calling and texting all my friends. None of them knew what it was and wondered why I would need it. So yeah, at this point I'm very upset and confused as to what I was going to do.

My friend, Joni, tells me to call her dentist and make an appointment with them for a second opinion because they are super nice and will be honest with me. I do it.

Which brings me to yesterday and my appointment with Smilewright Dentistry. Not only were these people really nice, I come to find out that during my consultation and the probing they did, that I indeed, DID NOT need a full debridement and they questioned why I was even encouraged to have that procedure. Apparently, it is geared more towards people that have never been to the dentist and have visible calculus on their teeth (which I don't have!) The dental hygenist was calling out all 1s and 2s during the gum probing and it ends up that all I need is a regular cleaning.

Are you wondering why the heck I am ranting about this? Well, I have now learned that you can't trust all dentists. I was being oversold on procedures I didn't need and could've gone through a relatively painful deep cleaning for no reason. It frustrates me beyond belief. I feel like this dental group was taking full advantage of me and now that I look back at all the things I was told, it's clearly about the money. Would I gladly pay for a procedure I needed? Absolutely. I will be paying for the fillings and eventually some whitening. That, I don't mind. But don't you sit there and tell me I have gingivitis and that I have to have a deep cleaning when in fact I don't. Jerks.

I'm debating about whether I should report them to my insurance. Who knows who else they have scammed into having things done that weren't necessary. I think the biggest lesson I learned is that I need to go by references before I go galavanting to some specialist for something. I went to this dentist because they were close and it proved to be of no benefit for me.

Poo on them.