I have had so much dental work done during my life, I joke with my dentist that I want a front row seat to his son's college graduation because I feel like I'm single-handedly footing the bill! I have never had as bad an experience as this root canal/crown that I'm going through. I've had root canals in the past, wisdom teeth pulled, and it's nothing like the discomfort I have now.
After paying the $318.75 out of pocket for the root canal (actually $265 - I got the refund today), I went back to my regular dentist today for the crown. He was stingy with the novacaine...I was numb when he was working, but it wore off at the end of the visit and I felt like I was hit in the jaw by a boxer! Then when I got home, the temporary crown fell out! My appointment to get the permanent crown isn't until the 29th, so I need to call tomorrow to see if I have to get the temp popped back in. The kicker to all of this - my portion for the crown will be about $475! Ouch. Thank goodness for dental insurance. This tooth will cost me over $700 out of pocket, and I have what would be considered really good insurance! So now I'm sore and I'm poor!
The tooth ordeal took up most of my day. (My dentist is 90 minutes away from my house - don't ask). I did make it to Target to return a Christmas gift, only to find that the gift receipt taped onto the box wasn't the right one. Trip wasted, and now I'm stuck with a gift that my kids won't use.
I have one more day off tomorrow, and was planning on finishing up some of my errands. However, DD seems to be coming down with something (perhaps DS's strep throat?) so I need to take her to the doctor tomorrow. Fortunately I have plenty of inside stuff to do too.
On the plus side, DH got his final paycheck for working Jan 1 (holiday) and Jan 2. We forgot he would be paid for those two days, so that's a nice little bonus.
I'm off to take 2 Advil and get some sleep. Hopefully I'll be back to my chipper self tomorrow.
ETA: I added another $63.99 to my medical savings total because the premiums for my plans are less than what we paid under hubby's plan.
Sore and Poor
January 16th, 2009 at 04:26 am
January 16th, 2009 at 04:33 am 1232080435
January 16th, 2009 at 04:58 am 1232081895
Our dentist is almost 90 minutes away, too. But once you find a dentist you trust, why would you just go looking for another?! We found a great dentist a several years ago. When we moved to a new town a few years later, we decided to just make the drive twice a year. My kids LOVE to go to the dentist. I just don't want to mess with that.
Hope you feel better!
January 16th, 2009 at 02:03 pm 1232114580
January 16th, 2009 at 06:12 pm 1232129563
I travel far to the dentist as well - Tuft's dental school in Boston. It takes me about 90 minutes to get there from work. Makes for a long day, but I have to cut costs somewhere. I'm strange - I trust students more than a regular dentist.