Hooray? for Dentists

Dentists are amongst the unsung heroes of the medical word. Often--usually the brunt of jokes, the focus of our fears, the person we least want to see in a day. But I have to say, when a dentist is needed, there is no one you want to see more. My dental problems, which arose to to a combination of my panic attacks when being stuck somewhere (is there anywhere more impossible to leave from than a dentist chair, mid, procedure?), on again, off again employment and benefits, a slim checking account and the general attitude of "why should I worry, everything seems fine!" have been acting up since last year.

I have a great--no incredible dentist, found through complete serendipity when I was in similar agony at the start of the decade--the deciding factor was his nearness to my apartment. A half-block away near. I went in, was immediately comfortable with Dr. Yee, which was great as I learned I needed a ROOT CANAL. Why all caps? I had perfect no cavity teeth as a child and with the way adults discussed ROOT CANALS, I came to envision them as some sort of scary horrible procedure. So when I heard what was about to happen to my tooth, I was beyond scared, given all the factors above.

As a starting point, Dr. Yee first filled a cavity. He was gentle, explained every step and was done in about 15 minutes. Unreal! As he said, "you, as the patient, determine how long a procedure will last." So very true. So the date for the ROOT CANAL was set and all went well.

I made a pledge at its completion that I would never neglect my teeth again, that I would go to Dr. Yee every 6 months. Unemployment and time passed and my teeth felt fine.

Fast forward to last November, when I suddenly started having aching gums, incredible pain. I called Dr. Yee's office and was given an appointment the next day. X-rays were done, turned out that my teeth are in terrible shape. A discussion of possible ROOT CANALS. Well, then the pain stopped--came and went, really. I was busy and decided to live with it, since my bank account is still paltry, even though my generous parents said they would assist me with the costs.

Fast forward again to two weeks ago when the pain started again, this time in earnest and not letting up. I had 800 mg. ibuprofen pills from a back strain last year and began popping them to get through the day and night. But things changed yesterday, when a molar broke as I was eating breakfast. That, compounded with the pain which was growing resistant to the pain medications, had me on the phone contacting dental clinics and even the cut-rate dentists you see advertising on late-night TV.

But I felt uneasy. A clinic meant one of two dental schools in San Francisco. In doing research, I learned that could mean multiple students and multiple procedures as the students are only allowed to do one thing at a time. The cut rate places were cut rate. What if they were painful and rushed? At about 1PM today, I was on the phone to Dr. Yee's office. Upon hearing of my pain, his assistant said "get right down here, we will set up a payment plan. The most important thing is that you are treated." Forget next day appointment, I had a next-half-hour appointment.

When I arrived, I was immediately taken into an exam room by Dr. Yee himself, who had cut short his lunch to squeeze me in. He wasn't angry about my avoidance of himself and his profession for the past 8 years, he commented that I was there now and he was going to put an end to my pain before I left the office. If that meant a spur of the moment ROOT CANAL, that's what he would do.

He did a deep cleaning of my gums, numbed me, and began to work on the deep cavity and filling. I mentioned I panic in dentist chairs? I was beyond panicky, interrupting the procedure again and again to take breaks. But Dr. Yee never raised his voice, never grew upset. He did his work in 2-3 minute increments, despite his other patients waiting, teasing me about my panic. Somehow, he made it through, with no help from me and I was on my way.

5 hours later, the numbness is gone (he had to use about 5 shots and numb the tooth to even be allowed near my aching mouth) and with it, the pain. I know I have about 5 more similar procedures, sort of a deep cavity/pre-ROOT CANAL but let's try this to save the tooth, drilling to the root and using antibiotics event, in my future, but I know now that my teeth aren't tumbling out and the problem is manageable. Thanks to my parents and Dr. Yee's willingness to give me a lean price (today was under $500 for the deep cleaning and filling, the filling alone was only half the bill), it is financially manageable as well.

Thanks, Dr. Yee. Lesson learned. I am taking fantastic care of my teeth from this point forward and will have all the work done, month by month. Hooray! for dentists. Especially really really good ones, a tough thing to find.