The other day, my new dentist looked at my X-rays. She did not propose veneers or a new smile like many of her colleagues, but she said I would need a root canal.
Pain and money!
--If you give me permission, I can have an oral surgeon or an endodontist look at your X-rays.
Pain, money and a specialist?
I am a terrible dental patient. On one hand, I have no dental insurance and fret about the expense (a root canal is equivalent to a couple mortgage payments or that trip to Barcelona). But I dislike pain, and my tooth had started to ache.
On the day of my root canal, I went by the office in the morning to finish reports. Maybe I should reschedule the dental appointment? But no one at the office seemed in a hurry to get those reports.
Against the fresh smell of mouthwash and low hum of drills, I filled out paperwork—name, date of birth, allergies, apprehension (!), insurance. No insurance.
--He’s running a little late, the receptionist apologized. If you would like to grab some lunch. . . . and return by. . . .
This seemed to be a divine sign. . . . CANCEL. But I returned in two hours, terrified and grumpy.
X-rayed and measured. Numbed with a local anesthetic. Mouth wedged open. Contraptions inserted. But once the drilling subsided, I dozed, awakened only when asked if I was o.k. In 90 minutes, it was over.
I survived a root canal, but the big question remains. The price of healthcare for the uninsured. The US doctors have their expensive education, the threat of lawyers as well as payment through insurance companies. In France, your healthcare is through the government (all procedures are 80-90 percent covered; pregnancy is 100 percent covered). You pay insurance on the basis of your income (v. the fixed rate in the States).
Let's hope we can work toward a solution. . . .
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