Husband convinced to proceed with dental work

My consultation lasted a full hour or more.  I had x-rays taken which clearly displayed infection in 2 of my roots!  The longest, strongest root did not (yet) have infection.  A possibility could be to sever the 2 bad roots but then there is only one root remaining.  I was told that I just may not take to root canal work.  Root canals are otherwise very common and very successful, except for about 5% of the population.  I told Dr. Brown, I'm usually average.  ::sigh::

I was never told that the success rate of a SECOND root canal on the SAME tooth is only 50-60%.  I may not have gotten it done (considering I paid thousands of dollars for it for half a chance it'd work?).  So, my other (best) option is an implant!

After much discussion with Dr. Brown and an explanation from Jeanie as to how everything worked, she discussed pricing then I took it away with me.  Eight days later, I finally emailed to say that I had convinced my husband to go in for a consultation and because his work will be more extensive, I wanted for him to get a start on his dental work first.  I'm a little scared though considering the pricing for my ONE tooth.

Here's the break-down of the estimate for my dental work - none of which will be covered by Manulife insurance:

• Odontectomy, Surgical Flap $208
• Grafts, Osseous, Autograph (flap) $975
• Surgical Implant with Cover Screw $1500
• Expenses of Materials $500
• Porcelain / Metal Crown, Implant $1200
• Commercial Laboratory Procedure $600

Due to a "professional courtesy", I'm being discounted $800 on the final set of procedures so the total estimate cost is $4200.  The good thing is that the extraction and grafting come first ($1200) then I have to wait 4-6 months for the graft to heal.  Then I get the implant ($2000) then wait another 4-6 months (with a big hole in the side of my smile!).  Then I get the crown put on and pay only $1000.  So, not too bad considering it's over the course of a year.  But Lorne needs at minimum of 4 bridges. ::sigh::

That's why I fully plan to attend his appointment with him.  To help him absorb the shock of the cost. :)

Lorne's appointment is Monday, February 5, 2013 at 2:10 pm

Hello Jeanie!

I hope you are well.  Thank you very much for spending so much time with me Wednesday discussing the plans, procedures, fees and options.  It was very helpful as was the consultation with Dr. Brown.  So much so that I've convinced my husband to see him. :) 

There is good and bad news.  My husband needs a lot of work.  Good for you, bad for my pocket book.  I say that to say that I prefer my husband get started on some work prior to me proceeding with my work.  I would just like to get him started before I book a date for my extraction and grafts (unless I get to the point my tooth is too irritating!).

My husband has avoided implants due to cost however based on my summary of what Dr. Brown told me about the procedures, I think he's willing to move forward anyway.  I don't feel this is covered by my insurance provider but I do want my husband to get this done.  I would like to be at the appointment as well to help him absorb the shock of the cost and to discuss options :)

Lorne has a lot of missing teeth.  He has 2 obvious teeth out in top right on the side however all 4 "back" areas require bridges.  He is missing 2-3 teeth on top right-back, top left-back, bottom right-back and bottom left-back.  Based on your review of the bridge procedure, Lorne may require those 2 implants with the bridge tooth.... times four!  Of course we would need a consultation to confirm this but I think the permanent bridge (not the palate version) costs as much as the work quoted for the implant?  

At that time, I would like to know how much can be done at one time... but probably cost will determine what we will do.

Lorne has Mondays off so if something could be scheduled on a near-future Monday, that'd be great.  He is already missing the teeth so no extractions required but unfortunately he is forced to chew food using his front teeth so it's really important to replace his back teeth and therefore the implants/bridges will need to be done.  I believe this is the most expensive part of the process.

I hadn't asked since it was only my tooth we were discussing and I planned on paying upfront for the extraction then 4-6 months later pay for the $2000 for the implant later this year.  But now I feel I should hold off on the extraction until Lorne has his at least one or two sets of implants/bridges constructed.  Are there payment plans available through My Dental Home?  I could possibly use credit if the payments could be spaced over a few months, or if the work could be done over a few months.  Unless it's cheaper to do more in 1 appointment.  A consult will tell... :)

What do you think? :)  

I appreciate your time and help with this matter.  It was very nice to meet you and I look forward to our next correspondence.

Thank you and I hope your Friday is going well!

Roz

Dr. Kevin Brown's reply...

Dr. Kevin Brown
Jan 22/13


Hello Roz;

Thank you for your email.  Dr. Brown could see you tomorrow, Jan 23, 2013 at 3:30PM for a consultation regarding your tooth.  Is there a possibility that you download a New Patient form and have it filled out by the time you come in?
If not please do come in at 3:20PM.

Are there any x-rays of the tooth in question that you can bring in for tomorrow ?
Please call me as soon as possible to confirm this day and time.

Regards;

Beata

Scheduling Co-ordinator
Dr. Kevin F. Brown & Associates
5011 Hwy #7 E
Markham, ON
L3R 1N1       905-415-7700
www.mydentalhome.com

Toxic Tooth?

The following is an email sent to my potential new dentist.  I'm ditching Dr. Bachus.  I just think it's time to move on.  Even though it's been almost 15 years with her.  She has only led me to pay thousands of dollars.  I will pay thousands more regardless but that will be the end of it.

to:		mydentalhome@rogers.com

Hello!

Morana Zeskoski suggested I contact My Dental Home.  I've known Teena and Dr. Brown from karate over the past 13 years and have been fitted for mouth guards a few times.

I'm contemplating a new dentist due to a recurring issue with a tooth that has had 2 root canals performed on it.

I've frequented my dentist (Dr. Debra Bachus, http://www.dentistryinthornhill.net/our-team) since June 1998 however she is in Thornhill and not convenient to access.  In addition, I keep having to have this one tooth re-addressed again and again.  Markham is equally far from Oshawa but I travel there, at least, for karate. :)

A bit of background on my upper right tooth. I had a root canal as a teenager (25+ years ago).  A regular check-up by Dr. Bachus found an infection so she brought in a periodontist to remove the infection and seal the tooth. (There was a piece of cotton left in there 20 years prior!)

However, the ends of the nerves weren't done properly (or something) so it got reinfected. I then had to see an endodontist to re-do the root canal.  After that I had grafting done for receding gums prior to getting braces March 2008 - July 2009.  

I've only required check-ups and cleanings since but yesterday, I felt pressure in the gum above my dead tooth.  When I pressed on it, it was "sore" and a bit swollen.  I've mentioned this to Dr. Bachus in the past but it is never "sore" when I see her and she finds nothing in x-rays.  The swelling is reduced today and there's no longer any pressure/pain.  I'm positive it will return.  Regularly when I bite down I feel a hot spot of some kind.  There is still "something there".

Somebody sent me information on toxic teeth due to root canal procedures.  Is there any way to get the infection out once and for all?  I've spent a lot of time and money on this one tooth. I've neglected getting a permanent crown due to ongoing issues surrounding this tooth.  Are there alternatives to NOT getting a third root canal?  I'm looking for an alternative solution.

Are evening or Saturday consultations available, or potentially tomorrow afternoon?  I am best reached by email, or please leave a voice mail.  My contact information is below.

Thank you.

Roz

12 years later....
I got a filling done last night (1-7) which seems to help my teeth fit together better. It is the 2nd last from back top tooth next to my crown (3rd last from back on top). My retainer still fits.

I've been wearing it mainly overnight; that's about it. I honestly prefer braces over the silly retainer which is very inconvenient for snacking and eating. :) However, if I don't wear my retainer for a couple days it will feel tight until I wear it for a few hours.

My teeth are prone to shift so I have to continue with the retainer for a lifetime! The permanent metal wire/retainer on the bottom is no big deal - and obviously there for "life" as well.

Dr. Bachus is pleased with my teeth. We discussed replacing my crown. I got it January 2001 so next year it'll be 10 years old. A good milestone to consider getting a new one. The current one used less of the better stuff she now uses which will make it completely "white". There is a bit of the "silver" filling showing at my gum line. With a wide smile, it shows. I wouldn't mind fixing that not to mention having a more solid crown in place.

After that is done, there may not be a single thing left to do to my mouth other than maintenance. I can barely believe it since I have had "teeth" issues for the past 25 years!

Dr. Bachus opened her office in February 1998 and I started seeing her that June. She just launched a website and is still working on making it more interactive:

Dr. Debra Bachus, Dentistry in Thornhill

Monday, July 20th, 2009:

I got my bottom braces off!

I have a permanent "wire" behind the bottom front teeth. No biggie. Flossing will be *so* much easier now anyway. I have to wear a "plastic" (mouth-guard-like) retainer on the top as much as possible, particularly at night, for at least 6 months.

Otherwise, I'm good to go with my new smile!

9 a.m. Monday, June 22, 2009

I got my bottom wire and ties adjusted so just another month and I'll get a mold done for them (July 13) and a week after that (July 20) the bottom braces come off! I'm *so* excited.

I have my new top retainer. It's a thin, rigid "mouth guard" which fits snugly and is barely visible. I don't mind wearing it. I just have to wear it all the time except when eating for a month then only at night.

8 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2009

I arrive before my appointment time and have a Chai green tea. How exciting, I'm getting my braces off! Off the top teeth anyway... Here's what they do:

1. Clip tiny wires tying main wire to braces.
2. Remove main "C" wire at the same time squeezing back-tooth metal braces - they come off easily and then Meryl starts to explain what she's doing...
3. The porcelain braces are more rigid so she says beware... it may feel uncomfortable. She has to grip and twist each one to snap them off. It's fine but it feels like if she were to apply more pressure, or in reality was gripping the tooth instead, that it would twist and pop right out! Instead, only 1 or 2 braces actually "break" and a couple pieces land on my face.
4. There is thicker residue where the back metal braces were as they required more "stick" to stay put - and they were the anchors for the others.
5. To scrape off the 3M-made glue for the metal and porcelain braces, she uses a rinse and a hard polish to get it off.
6. With a finer polish, my top teeth are smoothed out to resemble a baby's bottom :)
7. I rinse and the orthodontist takes a look - I haven't even seen them yet.

Finally, Meryl gave me a mirror and wow! I can't believe how big my teeth are. She also showed me the before photos - what a difference. We hug one another - joyous occasion!

Now for the bottom ones; Meryl has removed the wire to have Willy make artistic bends. The eye teeth shifted too much so the bottom front 4 are now overlapping a bit. Grrr! He is very busy though, and needs to do a consultation first so I have 2 green teas and read a magazine. It's a comfortable office and I could stay there as long as they need me to. :)

I end up staying nearly 90 minutes to get everything done but hopefully the bottom will be working over the next week before I go in again and I will be closer to actually getting the bottom braces off too! Meryl said maybe another month. Prior to today, I was thinking 8 weeks, so it's good news. Unfortunately with the top teeth straight (I'm a movie star!) and the bottom right (position 4-3) being too twisted, my jaws don't fit together like they have been (the eye tooth prevents my teeth from entirely coming together) and it's slightly uncomfortable and unnerving.

I also feel like I still have somewhat of a narrow "horse" mouth when I look at a photo I take of myself smiling "big". Are they really straight?? I can't be sure until the bottoms are also straightened fully and the braces removed... I am paranoid. I calculate that the cost of these braces equal out to nearly $300 per tooth! They had better be perfect! I have to ask when I go in next week. The teeth on the top right, i.e. 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 should be "out" more, I think. 1-5 looks to be out far enough and both front teeth are fine, it's just the 3 in between.

I get a mold done using raspberry-flavoured "guck" they put in a steel-looking mouth guard tray then insert in my mouth to make my retainer. It's gagging but brief and I cannot wait until next week to get it to further help my straight teeth and prevent them from returning to the way they were. The assistant that did that task told me a couple of things: (1) I will continually run my tongue over my new, smooth teeth obsessively; (2) not as many people will notice as I expect - and it turns out to be the truth!

I am wearing elastics in front to shift the bottoms but 2 hours after the end of my appointment, one "figure 8" elastic comes half off. I try a couple of times but it won't secure. I make an appointment for tomorrow to get it fixed. Later in the evening, I try until the elastic breaks so I snip it off completely as it is really irritating the inside of my mouth.

The new artistic bends are working though as both 'eye' teeth are quite sore. It feels tender to bite into things so I'm hoping there's a lot of progress in 7 days which is the main reason I prefer not to wait to get this elastic looked at (the only thing attaching the wire to the brace).

I return to the ortho office the next day Tuesday, June 16th at 10:10 a.m. (I got to sleep in a little at least) to get the elastic replaced and was given more in case it comes off/breaks again. It doesn't but a piece sticks out like a pin and I am forced to use the wax I was given months ago.... Oh, how I cannot WAIT until I get ALL these braces and wires out of my mouth!!

I get a cookie and a send-off, "Your first bite is on us." :) How nice!

Monday, April 20, 2009, 5 p.m.

I'm nearing the end! I was told today that at my next appointment my top braces will come OFF! They are pretty much straight now but it won't hurt to leave them on a bit longer (8 more weeks!). I'm excited. At that time, my lower braces may come off as well but I suspect they'll take 1 more appointment after that. The "eye" teeth are solid and stubborn and are having a bit of trouble twisting into the right spot... but the gaps are closing!

The clear elastics were removed from my top braces and they were re-secured with wires - thankfully as the elastics tend to stain and having them on my front teeth makes it quite obvious. After 4 weeks they were ready to come off... it'll be another 8 so they would have looked pretty nasty.

My lower wire was removed and the orthodontist put more artistic bends in it before putting it back in place. The bottom teeth feel "tighter" again - as teeth always do when the wire is tightened at an appointment.

At this rate, I will have no braces by end of summer! At my next appointment on Monday, June 15, 2009 @ 8 a.m., I'll get fitted for a top retainer then 1 week later on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 9 a.m. I will have to go get said retainer. I'm not sure how often I'll have to wear it but at least it's clear and can be removed! YAY! I'm *so* excited!