Have You Ever Walked Out of a Dentist Appointment?

[Moliphino]

I didn't leave, but I did show up to my dentist appointment last month to find that my dentist had retired the Friday before and I was seeing a completely different dentist. Apparently he'd been there for the past year, but I'd never met him before and nobody told me ahead of time. Oh well, the hygienist does most of the work anyway.

 

[lovin'fl]

As of yesterday, I have!

And I feel a little bad about it, but I think I did the right thing. I had a light sensitivity in my tooth that didn't really follow any particular pattern (not always sensitive, not specifically to cold, or touch, no actual pain) but I am going out of the country soon and I decided to have it checked in case it was a cavity that needed to be filled. After an x-ray and multiple sensitivity tests, none of which pointed to an issue, he told me that I should get a crown. This seemed a little out of left field and I probably should have told him I'd like time to think about it before he started anything at all, but he was pushing me to start the process right then and there due to my dental insurance rolling over on February 1. He pointed out if I did it now, I could use my remaining coverage rather than start my new year immediately paying for a crown. I was uneasy about it and told him so but he wasn't really taking my apprehension seriously (in general, I am not an anxious dental patient, I know myself and usually roll with things ok). I took the only minute I had to myself to text my brother and he texted me back as my imprint was being molded that I should get a second opinion before getting a crown. This validated my apprehension to me. The first mold did not work and the assistant started a second one. At this point, he had already numbed me and the combination of numbness and the goop from the mold at the back of my mouth made start to gag & choke. So that mold didn't work. At this point I'm getting upset and I tell him I do not want to do this today, and I'd prefer not to have to worry about a temporary crown or brand new crown while out of the country in an area without reliable access to dental care. He told me he would "give me glue." I reiterate I want to stop. He says we should at least take the imprint anyway. This time he does it and it is the worst imprint of the three, when he pulls it out of my mouth it's all broken up. This is when I put my foot down and say we are not doing this today, that it's not going well already and the last thing I want to do in the state I have found myself in (anxious, physically not great due Imprint Attempt #2, and emotionally as I was starting to get upset) was have my tooth permanently altered if I wasn't sure I really needed to. Maybe I should have just trusted him no matter what but I've had issues with him trying to rush me into an Invisalign fitting which I didn't need and I also know he is hurting for patients and it wasn't out of the question he was trying to fill a quota.

Anyway, at this point he kinda starts getting annoyed and saying if I wait too long, I might need a root canal or lose my tooth (noted, but I only want to wait a few weeks, and what if I hadn't even gone in to see him until after my vacation?). At one point, he literally tells me that my concerns are irrational. He tells me that I am losing money by not doing it now since my insurance is re-upping so soon (not really, I just am not using allocated coverage I have). He tells me that if I don't do it now, my insurance won't approve the procedure for six months (?!). I apologize for wasting his time and say that I am fine with all of this, I just do NOT want to worry about anything going wrong until I'm back from my trip, and that I'll call him when I return. That's when he hands me a mirror, JUST a mirror, and says to look at my face because it's still covered in the blue goop from the imprints and walks out of the room.

So, I recognize my role in this by letting the procedure begin at all, even though I do think I was kinda backed into a corner. However, I am pretty glad this happened the way it did because now I know NOT to go back to this guy for any further procedures. My friend recommended her dentist and if my symptoms continue after this, I am going to call them and see what they say. I'm also kind of glad that none of my imprints worked, so that they can't pass it off as me okaying the procedure and ordering a crown and billing me. As it was, the way the whole thing ended, I just left the office and I have no idea what he is charging me for what already happened.

The funny thing is if he had simply said "you know, I wish we hadn't started but I can see this isn't working out for you today. Why don't you give me a call once you've had a little time to assess and you're ready to move on," I wouldn't have had to feel so anxious, or so embarrassed, or like I did something wrong. Instead, he made me feel ashamed and lost a customer.

Anyway, has anyone else had experiences like this? How do you handle them?

I think you made a good decision to walk out. I wish I had. I went to new dentist when we moved. They gave me a long list of things I needed done. Replacement of several fillings and a crown to start. I was there for like 3 hours. And I already have anxiety at the dentist and told her so. But they had me in that chair drilling away in my mouth forever. I had to use restroom and when I did I looked at the nub they were putting the crown on. It was a tiny nub and all brown. Finally I get done and am so exhausted for being anxious for 3 hours. I go home and crash. But they didn't even my bite out and it felt off forever. I was reluctant to go back so I just lived with it. I took my 2 college kids to same dentist and they came out saying they each had like 8-9 cavities between their teeth. They had gone to previous dentist twice a year and never had a single cavity in their 20 years. Hmmm....so when my crown started hurting I refused to go back there. And they started calling me to say I was due to come in and why hadn't I made an appt. I let calls go to VM and then they e-mailed and texted. Finally I replied to text saying I was going to a different dental office. They replied that they wanted to know why. Gahhh. It's like hard core used car sales...just leave me alone. But yep, my crown started hurting. Off and on. Went to new dentist and he said I'd have to be sent to endodontist if a root canal was needed. But the pain wasn't bad. Was just a dull irritating ache. That would come and go. Dentist said it would get really bad and not go away if it were needing a root canal. I might get sick too. if I let it go too long. But that never happened and I don't have the pain anymore. I feel like the material they used bothers my gums. Like it reacts to it. I wish I never had it done. That dentist also told me all this scary stuff that might happen if I didn't do it, like my tooth might crack in half. I should have said 'I'll wait for that then, I'll wait for my hand to be forced'. Also the cost was crazy. With the crown and 3-4 fillings replaced it was @$1K.

I walked out of DR office this week too. I made appt because my hip has been hurting. And they have been bugging me to get flu shot (sending e-mails). So I walk in and there was a line of folks hacking and looking like death warmed over, being told to put on face masks. I walked right up to reception and said 'I want to cancel, thanks'. Waiting room was teaming with sick people. I do NOT want the flu. I did tell reception that I was worried about getting sick and she pointed to box of masks and said I could put one on. But I saw the girl before me, who looked like she was hit by a mack truck (looked soooo sick), grab one out and she fished around and struggled to grab a mask out so her germy hand was digging around in that box. I said, 'no thanks' and walked out.

 

[mikehn]

I have an appointment on Wednesday. Im hoping to get some fillings, and then walk out.

 

[StarGirl11]

Bumping this because I have an appointment with a new dentist today!

Unfortunately, I have a bit of a sinus infection that is probably affecting how my mouth feels. I didn't regret not having anything done before my trip, there was one day while I was away that I was getting a little stressed, as my mouth felt really weird (still not pain) and I was worried it would get worse before I got home. I think that was also sinus related though, as I had gotten a LOT of water in my face due to vacation activities. It was mostly gum irritation and a tightness around my teeth, which easily could have been a reaction to the ton of salt water that ended up in my mouth while snorkeling? So who knows.

The actual problem area has felt better overall so I'm curious to see what this dentist says.

Oh boy your first dentist is reminding me of a dentist I saw not far from my house. Woman tried to tell me I had not one, not two, but EIGHTEEN cavities. We ended up getting a second opinion and it turns out I had zero. There was an old partial filling that needed some work but nothing recent.

Later found out via Google that she apparently has a history of doing this. She once gave someone an unnecessary root canal if i remember correctly.

He "didn't let any parents in the back area." That was the extent of his explanation to me. Nope. Not good enough explanation. Not happening today.

I found out later about this being a common practice with some ped. dentists, with the actual why behind it. His explanation was like a "because I said so" without any meat behind it.

[/QUOTE]

Yeah the ‘because I said so’ may not have me walk out. But you bet I won’t be talking to the same doc about that issue again. My Neuro who I see for migraines I once tried to get to runs test for another condition I have. He balked at it saying too expensive and too inconclusive. Yeah that first part did NOT sit well since I felt that should be my decision to make on what qualifies as too expensive. Found another neuro who is trying to help me figure out what’s going on. I still see the first but that’s because he is decent at treating and following my migraines. I just don’t bring up other issues with him.

 

[DLgal]

Oh boy your first dentist is reminding me of a dentist I saw not far from my house. Woman tried to tell me I had not one, not two, but EIGHTEEN cavities. We ended up getting a second opinion and it turns out I had zero. There was an old partial filling that needed some work but nothing recent.

Later found out via Google that she apparently has a history of doing this. She once gave someone an unnecessary root canal if i remember correctly.



Yeah the ‘because I said so’ may not have me walk out. But you bet I won’t be talking to the same doc about that issue again. My Neuro who I see for migraines I once tried to get to runs test for another condition I have. He balked at it saying too expensive and too inconclusive. Yeah that first part did NOT sit well since I felt that should be my decision to make on what qualifies as too expensive. Found another neuro who is trying to help me figure out what’s going on. I still see the first but that’s because he is decent at treating and following my migraines. I just don’t bring up other issues with him.

Just so you know, doctors get scores from insurance companies for being fiscally responsible (not ordering unnecessary tests, etc). This neuro may have been trying to increase or maintain his score. Eventually, if a doctor has a score that is too low, the insurance company can drop them from their network.

 

[spiders]

I went to the same dentist for about 3 years. It was a husband/wife operation. I had a toothache which ended up being a cavity. The dentist started lecturing me about the importance of routine cleanings. I snapped saying, "I do get routine cleanings and for the last 3 years it's been from your office."

That was the last time I went there. I decided that he told me he does a really crappy job at cleanings.

 

[skyblue17]

This dentist basically alluded to my cleanings not having been very good. I just had a cleaning a few months ago and he was a little skeptical, which kind of makes sense, given the state of the old dentist's office. He also gave me a rec for a better everyday toothbrush, but just told me to go to Duane Reade and buy one, which made me feel like he genuinely wanted me to have a cleaner mouth even though there was no benefit to him (like a commission, or referral credit).

 

[fly girl]

I'm so glad you walked out of the dentist office weeks ago. Listening to your gut is usually the right way to go. Sounds like this time it was spot on.

 

[ReneeA]

We've had the same dentist for over 20 years and really trust him. Unfortunately, he had some health issues a few years ago and decided to take on partners so there would always be coverage in the practice. Most have been young dentists just out of school who get established and then open their own practices, so we've seen quite a few come and go the past 6 years or so.

When my kids were 13 and 14, I had a very young, new dentist ask me what the orthodontist thought about my kid's teeth. I responded that they had never been to see one. He was visibly shocked and asked me why I hadn't taken them yet. I was shocked he was asking - my kids both have very nice teeth - straight with good bites. So that's what I responded. He very angrily told me that I was being a negligent parent and that basic care is now "routine orthodontic care". I was so angry, and let him know that he was being insulting and ridiculous.

The next visit, I made sure we saw our long time dentist and asked him if the kids should see an orthodontist. He asked "why? Don't you like their smiles? Everything looks great to me, but you can see one if you want." I told him what his new partner had said to me, and he was aggravated. Apparently some dental schools drill down these types of shady practices with the students so they come out of school kinda brainwashed into pushing unnecessary work onto patients.