I am So Angry Right Now I could Spit Razor Blades....

[Its_Donna]

and bite nails in half! I just come from the Dentist and boy oh boy am I upset. I just had to come here and get this off my chest and look for some advice..I don't want to rage at DH since he's gone...I am literally shaking and have an upset stomach.

Some History...I have a broken tooth in the back upper left side...it also had a filling..the filling fell out a month ago leaving a hole in this broken tooth. I called the dentist office to make an appt...I just wanted it pulled. Of course they have been after me for a year to get it root canal'd and crowned...the issue has always been the money. We have Ins. but the office makes us pay up front and then I file a claim and eventually get my OOP back. My DS needed braces and that took 5K out of our EF. My DS teeth are far more important to me at this point in time. The tooth didn't bother me until the filling came out. That filling was 35+ y/o. The earliest I could get in was today.

Okay..now the good part.

I get xrayed and I am sitting in the dentist chair with the bib on waiting on the dentist to come in..I wait and wait...no biggie...I am reading some mags. She fianlly comes in and doesn't say Hello...How are you..Nice to see you..Nada...She starts in with: "Well, let's see here..a year ago you were told that you needed to get this tooth addressed..I can see that nothing has been done so what exactly do you want from me?" I say "Hello" and she says "Again I'll ask you What brings you here today?" I say " The filling fell out of my tooth and I need something done with it, I would actually just like it pulled. I don't really see the need to have it crowned, capped or whatever the procedure is." She then says to me "Why have you not had this tooth taken care of like I told you to do a year ago. And Why are you just now coming in here. You said the filling fell out..when did this happen..a day ago, last week...When?"

So.........Well......I lose it!

I look at her and I say " How dare you come in this room and talk to me like I'm a child. I have sat in this chair and listened to you giggle and carry on with other patients for 45 min. but the minute you come in this room you cannot even say Hello to me. How dare you treat me with such disrespect. I told you a year ago that my kid needed braces and that I was going to put them on his teeth before I had any work done to my broken tooth. You were told last year I had no plans to do any extensive work to this tooth. It is next to the hole that was made when the wisdom tooth was removed, I am 43 y/o and could give a Rat's A about another hole being there. I told you then I wanted it pulled and I haven't seen you since because the Dental Hygientist has taken care of me for the last year. I will not be treated like this and I can get another Dentist...after all I was looking for a Dentist when I found you."

She got really quiet and proceeded to examine my tooth, her tone completely changed and she was very gentle and wrote out a referrral for an oral surgeon. ... She is still insistant on the root canal/cap.

I was so PO'd I ripped the bib off, took the papers, stopped by the front desk, was told nothing owed today and I slammed the door beind me as I left.

Now I'm not sure if I over-reacted. I really dislike confrontation but when backed into a corner or when protecting my cubs I get really fierce. Maybe it's cuz DH is gone and I am missing him so much. Anyhoo....Do I look for another Dentist? Did I over-react? Should I just follow thru with what I was instructed to do and go for the root canal. I need some :

[TreasureFinder]

The dentist didn't handle that appointment well at all. I've worked in three dental offices, and the same situation comes up all the time, but I've never heard a dentist "scold" someone quite like that after it was broken.

Dentists want to save teeth, and they often have patients in the same situation you were in. The patient doesn't have the money, doesn't come in until the tooth breaks, just wants to pull a tooth when it could be saved, etc. They get frustrated seeing teeth go this far when they know they could have saved them. However, there was no point in lecturing you after the fact. The "What exactly do you want from me?" was unnecessary.

[carlitasway]

IMO you have every reason to be upset. I would've been mad, too! I'm glad you stood up for yourself. She had no right to treat you that way.

[DAAC3DEC]

I have no tollerance for someone who talks down to me---I would so be out of there...........that was wrong and inconsiderate. I would write a letter stating where to transfer your records and be done. You can handle the tooth without her since you have to see an oral surgeon. I am sure some people would give her another chance, but if it was me, I would be done. Good luck with the rest of your day!!!!

[baxjul]

I would be looking for a new dentist!!!!! I would have flipped out too!

[YankeeMom]

I don't think you were out of line at all. Good for you for sticking up for yourself.

[guest002]

After a huge mess I had what sounds like the same tooth removed as well.

Good for you standing up for yourself. Personally I'd find another reg. dentist.

[Its_Donna]

I have thought of nothing else but this since I came home. I'm calling around for a new Dentist tomorrow. I am just so sick and tired of people being so rude and obnoxious these days. I am not gonna take it anymore...Dentist, Doctor...whomever! No More I say!

[Marie78]

I would look for a new dentist too! You shouldn't be treated that way. I wouldn't want that dentist near my teeth again after they talked that way to me. You will find a better dentist, keep looking until you do. I have been through 2 in the last 2years and I hope that I continue to like the 3rd one I am with after my next appt. in November.

[frugalfriend]

Wow, I cannot believe she talked to you like that!! The nerve! I would not go back, but would find another dentist, get their advice and then make a decision from there. I'd be mad too!!!! BIG HUG!!

[pita1213]

you're nicer than me, because after telling her what you did, i would not have let her look at the tooth. i would have gotten up and walked out and told them that i would NOT be paying anything for the visit after being treated like that. unfortunatly some docs and dentists forget they they have been hired to give a service and can be fired if they act like that.
she knew your situation so it's not like you were some deadbeat patient that didn't want to listen. i have had to fire 3 doctors in teh past 2 years and one PT. 2 of them because they refused to listen to what was going on and thought they knew better than me about what I was feeling in MY body.

yes it's time for a new dentist.

[many houseapes]

I probably would have done the same thing. After searching for a dentist that didn't belittle me for "not taking care of things", I finally was able to find an understanding dentist that actually reduces the cost for me(root canal) & has done successful "build-ups instead of crowns & doesn't scold me. I should be more regular about my dental care, but I clean my own teeth w/ dental instruments & only go in when I think something should be looked at.

[jlaporte]

I am happy you stood up for yourself.Way to go. Stick to your guns and just have it pulled. I am in the same boat. I am in need to have a lot done but the money just isnt there. We just got our insurence in check. Didn't have any now we do. The kids are most important. My 11 yr old needs braces and that will be done first.Enouph said.

[mikandmari]

Ooh you sound a lot like me I know I have a sharp tongue, but I also hate confrontations. Sometimes I snap, and then immediately afterwards will feel stressed out about it. My guess? You will feel better about it tomorrow. She obviously NEEDED it said to her.... and since she will also lose you as a patient, maybe she will realize that acting this way to her customers is not good for business!

Actually, I think your little rant was quite poetic

[ScrapMama]

Good for you! I would find another dentist, that is so not right of her.