2 years, 3 Root Canals
I’ve had a lot of trouble with my teeth lately. Could be the turning 40 thing. About 18 months ago (when Dad was still alive) I had a root canal done. My dentist did it. It meant removing several nerves, adding the crown etc.
Everything seemed fine until about 9 months later (after Dad died) when it started playing up again. Teeth = age IMHO.
My dentist referred me to an Endodontist (they charge roughly twice as much). The endo was very unimpressed with my dentist’s work (she’d missed a fourth nerve) and asked why I hadn’t come to him first.
What’s an endodontist?
The endo redid my root canal by excavating a big hole through the top of my AU$1,000 crown. He found the 4th nerve and that was that. Good. I learnt an expensive lesson. Get an endodonist to do your root canal. It’s less likely to return.
In an effort to never have a root canal again, I had all four wisdom teeth removed – all of this costing around AU$5,000. No health insurance.
So – now the tooth which was next to my impacted wisdom is playing up. I’ve been in absolute and horrific agony for about a week. My dentist gave me a week’s worth of antibiotics in one shot and the pain dulled somewhat. But I’m only now keeping it at bay with anti-inflammatories and panadol. The fact that the pain seems to be returning suggest to me that this is a little more than a small abcess (my dentist and I’s overly optimistic POV).
HBF are waiving the 2 month waiting period, so I’ve joined. AU$6.60 per month gives me cover for teeth, psych (I may need one after all this), glasses and other essentials. When I spend $4 on long macchiatos nearly every day – I can’t justify an all medicine should be free protestation. Not at my own expense.
So by joining the frey of privately insured individuals, I’m up to save around $1,000. Not bad for $300pa cover). If this pain keeps on the way it is, I’ll be saving that cash pretty soon, too – by the feel of things.
