A Dental Appointment Gets Complicated
How could a dental appointment located a few hundred feet away get so complicated? Well, I have to tell you what happened yesterday.
It was the first time I’d gone to a dentist since about 2017. Because I ended up with trigeminal neuralgia three times after going to that dentist.
The Closest Dentist:
I googled the closest dentist and found one so close I didn’t even have to get on a main street.
Greg even drove over there and scoped out where the ramp was for me day before yesterday.
It should have been an easy thing to accomplish yesterday morning. But it wasn’t.
I got gas first, which put me in the opposite direction. And I got turned around somehow and went to the wrong building. There are three office buildings close to one another.
Someone said the dentist is on the second floor. I didn’t recall the receptionist mentioning that. But okay.
So I head to the second floor. The woman on the elevator with me said the dentist was where she was going also. So I just followed her.
The receptionist took my information and such, and it was then that I realized it was a VA dentist. I not only got the wrong place and the wrong dentist; I got the wrong building.
And by the way, when did my feet and hands get so cold? They were never cold before. These things just creep up on you, don’t they.
One day you’re young, and with no further ado you are old and somewhat confused.
A Partial Cleaning:
Well, back to the dentist. The dental hygienist did a partial cleaning because I hadn’t been in so long and there was a lot of plaque. I have to go back for the rest of it.
When I go back I need three crowns and two cavities taken care of. It’s going to cost me a fortune. Crowns start at $1150. And they said I’d be lucky if I didn’t need a root canal.
Oh joy.
So I finally get home and I park next to where Steve’s car is parked. If he’s parked in front it means he’s come home but he’s soon going back out again.
I called him and asked if he’d go unlock the patio door for me. Because I didn’t think I could make it all the way to the front door.
So he unlocked the patio door and I was finally home. And dead tired.
Ivy:
Ivy was sitting on the chair staring outside waiting for me. You’d think I’d been gone a month the way that cat acted.
She was all over me wanting attention, so it took a bit of time to take care of her needs.
Have you ever noticed that with a cat you’re always on their schedule and not yours? If I don’t do what Ivy wants she sits and paws at me until I do.
How does getting gas and going to a dental appointment get so complicated and take everything out of you? I just don’t know how, but it did. Now I don’t want to have to get in a car to go anywhere any time soon.
Surely I can manage to leave this apartment complex and drive several hundred feet and actually get to the right place.
I felt just a hair shy of hopeless by the time I collapsed into my chair.
My girls are going to die laughing when I tell them.
You’re definitely not the only one, Brenda. I could get lost in a paper bag. It’s so frustrating.
I think we have all had at least one day such as yours and it does make you wonder!! I am retired and for two years I have had a United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Plan. I have no out-of-pocket monthly premium for the plan (it uses my medicare premium). It offers coverage across multiple areas: medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs, fitness, etc. If you are in-network there is no copay for root canals, fillings, crowns, etc. There is a 50% copay for bridges and dentures. The annual max dental benefit is $1,500. I live in GA so this plan may be different in other regions. As Jan stated above, always speak to a medicare insurance specialist to compare the plans that work best for you. It may be something to consider when you have the time to speak to a medicare ins agent to compare the various Medicare Advantage Part C plans and benefits to traditional Medicare Part B.
For the life of me, I don’t understand why dentists are so expensive. I had one dental visit (two crowns, two root canals, x-rays, and cleaning) cost more than my Medicare health insurance for a whole year. And that covered my whole body, not just two teeth.
I made an unexpected trip to the dentist when I was (just) eating and broke out a big filling. It was spendy, too. I had just been there the month before for an exam, x rays, etc., because I hadn’t been there for several years. (like you) That all made my credit card go up and I was just about to pay it off. Grr! Sorry you have so much dental work to be done. I’ve had crowns and root canals and can say I don’t enjoy any of it! My first crown was probably 50 years ago and it is a (real) gold one. Back then they were about the same price as the others. wow, how times change.
Cats rule. Today my cat met me at the door and wanted to be fed and I had numerous bags of groceries to put away. Do you think she could have nagged the hubby to feed her—noooooooooooooo, she had to wait until I came in the door. She knows the sound of our car, too, and is right at the door the minute you open it. Some days she really gets on my last nerve. lol But she is about 16 years old so I have to indulge her. Hope you can drive right to the dentist next time with no complications!
Sorry, but it sucks getting old.+
Remember, use it or loose it.
Sadly, Covid destroyed many middle age and older peoples lives in this way. People SAT at home and lost all muscle tone and strength. I knw, as It happened to me and most everyone I know. A whole group of people whoose lives were shornened by Covid, Maybe that was the whole Covid plan…
I had issues with plaque build up and receding gums. My dental hygenist recommended that I start using a water pick to clean between my teeth and along the gum lines along with regular brushing. My dentist also recommended using the purple color Listerine Mouthwash. It took me awhile to “master” using the water pick flosser (I did not buy the brand name original Waterpik) but it is gentle and has really helped improve my oral health, especially keeping clean around my crowns and a multi-tooth bridge. It takes a little more time in the bathroom daily to do my oral care routine but it’s worth it, as my gum lines stopped receding and there is little build up of plaque in between my 2x a year cleanings. As to the cost of dental care these days – it’s outrageous, but such is life. Everything is expensive these days, especially medical and dental care. Unfortunately, dental insurance doesn’t help me, and I cancelled mine some years ago when the premium kept going up every year and it was close to $900 a year and paid 50% or less of “covered” procedures which was primarily cleanings and basic fillings. The big cost stuff like crowns and bridges, the insurance coverage wasn’t worth the cost of the tiny amount of procedures it paid for.
Going to the dentist and having work done is exhausting! At least it is for me, especially since I have inherited bad receding gums and have to have LOTS of shots in my mouth for a deep cleaning. Not to mention, getting crowns and having cavities filled. I have terrible dental anxiety and now take Valium before my appointments, which takes the edge off my anxiety. The dentist even said it’s easier for HIM to work on my teeth when I’m not so tense. (Of course, I have someone drive me to and from the dentist due to the Valium. )
My mom has needed a lot of major dental work over the past year or so. Since it costs a fortune, she opted to go to a dental school. Yes, the work takes longer than a regular dentist since it’s students working on your teeth (overseen by a dentist), but it’s a fraction of the cost of a reg dentist. You might want to look online and see if there’s a dental school in your area. Even if you have to travel a bit further (Mom is 83 and travels 45 min to go to the dental school), it would be worth it to save thousands of dollars. Perhaps Steve could drive you to and from if you don’t think you could drive that far.
Brenda I feel for you…long before I aged into my 70’s , if I was going somewhere unfamiliar, I’d do what I call a dry run, take a drive to scope out the route. GPS does help, but not necessarily, especially if the building is located in a large complex. Just a thought, you mentioned plaque, the horror of our teeth. I went on Amazon and bought these tablets that you crunch on, and rinse. The color left shows old and new plaque, I do it about every two weeks or so, and my dental appointments have really improved. (Two Tone Chewable Disclosing Tablets Shows Plaque On Teeth – 80 Count ) abt $20
Also yes, we do live by our cats schedules…good luck with future trips……
That’s how I roll Brenda 🙂 I can’t go anywhere without first checking my gps. I went to the orthodontic this week and embarrassed myself getting lost. I guess this 70 y.o. mind is starting to dry up. Btw I ordered one of the pictures from your amazon should be here Sunday.
Brenda, are you on Medicare?
If so, check your benefits!
I have a United Health Care Supplement through AARP..
My plan has a Dental allowance, Eye Care and allowance for Glasses, Hearing aids..
There’s no need to be paying out of pocket when you have insurance that will cover many of those same costs..
Lou
Medicare doesn’t cover most dental things. 🙁
United Health offers a Medicare Part C plan (also known as a Medicare Advantage plan) that does include some dental care, but I don’t know what kinds of procedures other than regular cleanings that it covers. There have been some issues with Medicare Part C plans though when it comes to the need for hospitalization due to serious health issues that may require longer term care in hospital. The thought behind a Medicare Part C plan is that it is for healthier individuals who don’t anticipate expensive medical care/hospitalization that traditional Medicare Parts A and B cover. It’s recommended that one does a lot of homework before switching to a Part C plan if you’re currently covered under traditional Medicare Parts A and B, and talk through potential issues, what is covered and what is not, with an independent health insurance agent who is not affiliated with any particular insurance company or insurance program.