Question:
All dental treatments I have had done in Mexico had to be redone in
the US, and that was by a Mexico dentist that came highly recommended
by trusted relatives.
Answer:
my American trained female dentist who very satisfactorily did
fillings, botched a root canal.
I do not feel like having it redone, but I know that a portion of the nerve is
still functioning.
My former dentist who taught at a prestigious dental school was fond of doing
more and more work.
My crowns had held for over 25 years when he decided to take one off, with the
infamous hammer.
I have come to believe that the best course is to practice exemplary dental
hygiene, and to try to move to a state where the hygiensts can clean teeth,
when YOU want it, not as a prelude to extensive dental interventions.
Anyone know of that state? Where one can have teeth cleaned with no further
dental work solicited?
Rumor has it that Iowa is the best. I would suggest the NE
corner of the State since you can then escape to Minnesota,
Wisconsin, or northern Illinois for temporary relief from the
pastorale scene. It's the only part of Iowa that I have reliable
second hand knowledge of dental and medical customs.
I don't know that one can make such a determination at the level of a
"state". I've found that individual dentists, in an area of 15 miles from
each other, and in one case within the same practice, displayed one or the
other tendency.
My former dentist, of about 16 years, retired a few years ago. When I had a
cleaning, he would make time and when the hygienist was finished, the
dentist would stop in the hygienists room for a visit. Only once a year
would he check my teeth and at that time charge my insurance for an
examination. Only once, in those 16 years, did he find anything in these
examinations, and it required only the repair of an old, small filling that
was failing. Then, and also during the 6 month cleaning, we would have a
chat - about investments (we used the same brokerage), flying, computers,
anything in which we both had an interest. There was no "charge" during
these visits.
Then the dentist retired. The young dentist that took over the practice
immediately began to "discover" minor things that he could work on. Plus, he
wanted to do twice a year examinations followed by treatment I deemed
unnecessary. After two trips to him, I had him forward all my dental records
to another dentist I had found that seemed better and was closer to my
current residence. In fact, this latest dentist was much like the old one.
I've been going to him for 4 years now. He stops by each time I'm in for a
cleaning. Only once a year does he do a "chargeable" exam. We bs about
investments, flying, and his garden - he's not much for computers, but
prizes his specialty flower, herb and vegetable plot. The last time I was
there, he commented that he thought I had particularly good teeth and gums.
What he said was - "I don't know how long you will live, but you're likely
to die with those teeth". He is not inclined to make up work. On the one
occasion when he thought there might be a problem, after checking the x-ray,
he said it was a false alarm and nothing was needed.
So I'm of the opinion that this might be an individual thing. Finding a good
dentist is probably like finding a good mechanic. You have to find one you
trust and who doesn't gouge you on unnecessary or overpriced work.
