I just walked out on my endodontist

[Mizmoon]

I was supposed to get a root canal (non-emergency) but the guy ticked me off and I didn't feel comfortable about letting him do major tooth surgery on me. So I walked out.

Freaky, ey?

[LynneSin]

1. I walked out of a hair dresser once and I still had shampoo in my hair

the lady was freaking me out and I had to get out of there. So I took my cape off left $5 on the chair and split

[LeftCoast]

2. Good for you!

I mean that. Never have medical work done by someone you don't trust.

[Mizmoon]

3. oh, good ... validation

I never really did that before, but something didn't feel right.

Thanks :)

[LeftCoast]

5. Did he do anything specific?

?

[Mizmoon]

8. He was being very cheap about the fee

I paid a consultation fee when I first saw him. Then I decided to go with him for treatment. I told him that my regular dentist told me that they usually take the consultation fee off of the root canal fee. You know, since I decided to give him the business and all.

That has also been my experience when I've dealt with other dentists too.

Well, the endo guy says very coldly, "It was inappropriate for their office to tell you that. We will be charging the full fee."

But here's the thing - he was really snotty about it, very pissy. I felt like he was too mad, and maybe too petty, to go on with this. He seemed mad at me. I didn't want him to dig into my tooth after that little show. So I stood and said, "I think it's best if I go." He said okay, so I left. It's so strange.

[LeftCoast]

11. That is odd

Hope you can find someone to fix your tooth soon! Good luck!

[SnohoDem]

13. No question that you did the right thing

REGARDLESS of the fee issue. Root canals can hurt like hell, and I wouldn't let anyone who acted that immaturely do one on me.

Make sure you tell your dentist about this.

[Mizmoon]

14. It's interesting that even as an adult

I still feel a little strange about asserting my rights in such a way. We are programmed creatures, no doubt.

[China_cat]

16. Expect to get a bill from him for the whole thing.

[Mizmoon]

18. I'd like to see him try

I know judo :)

[China_cat]

22. Just don't be surprised if you do.

I got a bill from a doctor once who only looked at my records and did nothing else...almost $800. I never even saw the guy.

Got bills from him for 2 years. After the first letter from me asking for copies of what he did for me...with no reply, of course...I just dumped the bills. But it did show what they'll try to get away with.

If this guy was even half as pissy as he sounds, look for some retaliation.

[jswordy]

4. Good thing to do if you were not comfortable.

Trust yer gut.

[undeterred]

6. I did that to a female ob/gyn once because she was a bitch.

[Bouncy Ball]

7. I had a tooth that needed a root canal and it went crazy painful on

me while I was visiting my in laws shortly after I got married. They lived near a naval base and my husband was in the Army, so we could do there on an emergency basis.

It was 4 am and this Navy dentist came in, obviously pissed off for being awakened.

He started slamming the instruments around because he was so pissed off. Can you imagine? But I HAD to have it done then, the pain was so bad you wouldn't believe.

Worst root canal EVER.

[Mizmoon]

9. You poor thing!

that sounds awful! I'm glad you pulled through!

[Jokerman]

10. I walked out on a dentist appointment once.

I called ahead and they assured me they were on time. I arrived and signed in, after waiting about 20 minutes I overheard them tell the next patient that the dentist was running about an hour behind. I walked out and never went back to that office again.

My single biggest complaint about medical professionals is that most of them have no concern for the patient's time.

[Taverner]

12. My wife (then GF) had an OBGYN lecture her on birth control

As in "Birth Control is so unreliable...it's best not to have sex until you get married for medical reasons."

Natrually, she walked out.

[faithnotgreed]

15. mizmoon - may i offer this bit of biased advice

im not a dentist - as i think will be evident - but have been through the medical ringer incl dental

so please take this or not. i hesitate to even say anything but on the chance that someone can get any help then i throw it out there for you.... to throw it back if you like

if you need a root canal (i did have an emergency one some yrs ago) i would encourage you to go to a biological or holistic dentist if possible
SOME times for people with root canals the materials they use can cause further problems and there also seems to be a problem with getting the area fully sterile so infection etc can be an issue

so if you live in an area where this is a possibility or if youre open to it then i pass it along

my 70 yr old mother has metlife dental insurance and they covered a procedure last year for her to get her root canal re-treated (it had some infection that she wasnt really aware of but knew the tooth never felt right after the root canal)
i ended up having my one root canal tooth removed since it was never properly cleaned out and there was underlying infection.

sending my best wishes. i know this can be very painful and you have to do what you have to do!

[Mizmoon]

17. How funny you should say that, this is a "re-root canal"

I had it done six years ago and now it's become infected at the root tip. They didn't get all the root last time. It's not badly infected yet which is why I have time to deal with it. It was discovered by accident during routine yearly x-rays.

Where are these folks listed?

[faithnotgreed]

21. sorry to say this but your post made me smile... in other words

i am not surprised by your situation. i hear about this stuff all the time

thank you for your response and i am sorry that youre in pain

i dont know where youre located so i would recommend you do a search online for biological or holistic dentists + root canal + your state

but i hesitate to recommend a particular site. just because someone is holistic doesnt mean they are wonderful but with a little research you should be able to find someone good esp if you are in a populated area

dams and iaomt are good sites but their primary goal is to help those who are seeking alternatives to mercury fillings or having them removed and replaced

if you were around washington dc i would have you go to the dentist i sent my mom to (because its where i live)
if i recall he used a laser to clean out the area

hope this helps at all and please let me know what you decide

[catzies]

19. I fired my orthopedic surgeon. Pompous condescending asshole

Good for you.

[LibertyLover]

20. Root canals

Several years ago I had to have a root canal on a semi-emergency basis. Luckily I have dental insurance. I checked into endodontists in the area around my office, found one only a few blocks away and made an appointment. They could see me that afternoon. She confirmed that I needed a root canal and said that she could do it the next day. When I walked out the receptionist told me that payment was expected up front. However, before I had gone over I had checked with my benefits people and was told do not, under any circumstances, pay upfront. The deal is that the office bills the insurance company and gets paid the agreed upon amount and if there is anything remaining on the bill, then I pay. I told that to the receptionist. She got all frosty on me. I told her to call the insurance company. She did and was told the exact same thing - under the terms of the contract between the endodontist and the insurance company I didn't pay anything up front. The next day the endodonist started bitching at me about how I wouldn't pay. I final said that it was not up to me, but rather up to the insurance company and I was very sorry but had been told that if I paid her it would be a very long time before the company would settle the claim while if her office builded, the claim would be settled immediately. I was scheduled to come back in a week and when I did the office was all smiles and happy to see you. They had already received their payment.