Root Root Root Canal

Today was THE day.  When the office called yesterday to remind me of my appointment (like one can forget their prescribed day of torture?) - I asked if they give gas.  No.  Uh huh.

This is where I gently reminded her again that I suffer high anxiety with ALL dental related situations. Don't ask.  Won't tell.  Suffice it to say I have very good reasons and that I have PTSD.  I'm very upfront about my condition.  I've gone to the same dentist now for twenty years and he knows me.  I may cry even if I don't want to and it takes every bit of faith I have to walk in his office. 

However, this is NOT my normal dentist.  This is a specialist - because I have infection grabbing roots.  Once my roots grab said infection they don't like to let go.  This is a nasty habit on the part of my teeth because this (more often than not) leads to root canals.  My regular dentist is getting tired of my quirky teeth and sent me to a specialist.   Considering my dental phobias and my allergies to most opiads (which are the best things with which to feel no tooth pain) - I face alot of opportunities to be an overcomer.

Before you even think it - I brush and floss and take good care of my unappreciative teeth. Anyway....

After assessing the situation of NO gas, I asked the nurse what she intended to do for me.  Bottom line - Valium.  Okay by me.  Jbird will drive me to and fro and hopefully the stuff would relax me enough.

And guess what?  It worked!  Woo hoo!  This guy is good and I do mean good.  I was SO happy when he said, "We're just about done now."  I was doing great  - until I got to the front desk and was told I needed to fork out over $1000.00 - like  - right - then - and - there.  Say what?   The nurse told me I got services and I needed to pay for them.  Like - would a couple of hundred suffice for today?  Nope - the whole thing and nothing but the whole thing.  I rummage through my purse and come up with a credit card.  Hubby is going to have a fit.  Now I'm NOT feeling so good.

I sign over my life and wait for her to give me an appointment date for a year check up. 

"Oh!", she exclaims, "You've got dental insurance!"

Uh - yeah.  She begins to profusely apologize.  I begin to breathe again.  We cancel payment and I pay the co-pay - which is about $279.  PTL.  Much more do-able.

Comments

[ulli]

So glad it went well and you're done! I'm very familiar with the dental chair. I have 18 crowns and have had about 3 root canals--and I too take great care of my teeth. Glad he was a good doctor--gotta love 'em--makes it so much easier. Hooray for insurance--boo for the pushy nurse. It takes all kinds...

[Nuwanda]

So glad it's over and went well! Thank God for insurance, eh? Makes those bills more bearable, albeit still icky. I can't believe they didn't offer to work out some payment plan when they thought you owed the $1000. And why do they wait until you're groggy from drugs to talk about payment? Are they hoping you won't notice how much they are costing you, or that later you will think you were simply hallucinating??? :)