NWR: Wish me luck, Knotties!

JCbride2015

Guys, I am going to LOSE MY SHIT.  First I get there and they can't tell me exactly what the cost for today will be.  Meanwhile I'm waiting 45 minutes after my appointment-- fine, I understand there are emergencies.  So I go in and the dentist takes impressions and photos of my teeth and then tells me we are done for today, come back in two weeks for the implants.

Apparently the front desk was wrong when they told me today was the surgery (and oh yes, I called them a few times in between making the appointment and today, and they always said today was the surgery).  I am SEETHING.  I was so nervous for this and I was all worked up about it and ready to go.

I just don't have the kind of job where you can take off work frequently.  I have been sending people emails for the last two weeks reminding them I'll be out and without access to email, wrapping up everything, etc.  Yes, everyone's understanding, but just today two major things have already blown up in my email that I really should have been there for.  Now I have to go back to work and say, "Oh whoops, sorry, just playing" and then miss more time in a few weeks????

I am just full of rage right now.

holyguacamole79

I'm enraged on your behalf.  IDK if I told you, but my dad is a dentist, and I've worked his front desk on & off most of my life.  That should not have happened, and I would be furious, too.  

Hang in there.

pinkcow13

Wow, that is infuriating and beyond unprofessional. I'm so sorry that happened.

And why can't they tell you the cost?? Being that they are now doing it in 2 weeks, can they give you the price within that time frame?

KatieinBkln

JCbride2015 said:

Guys, I am going to LOSE MY SHIT.  First I get there and they can't tell me exactly what the cost for today will be.  Meanwhile I'm waiting 45 minutes after my appointment-- fine, I understand there are emergencies.  So I go in and the dentist takes impressions and photos of my teeth and then tells me we are done for today, come back in two weeks for the implants.

Apparently the front desk was wrong when they told me today was the surgery (and oh yes, I called them a few times in between making the appointment and today, and they always said today was the surgery).  I am SEETHING.  I was so nervous for this and I was all worked up about it and ready to go.

I just don't have the kind of job where you can take off work frequently.  I have been sending people emails for the last two weeks reminding them I'll be out and without access to email, wrapping up everything, etc.  Yes, everyone's understanding, but just today two major things have already blown up in my email that I really should have been there for.  Now I have to go back to work and say, "Oh whoops, sorry, just playing" and then miss more time in a few weeks????

I am just full of rage right now.

That is completely fucked!

I'm sorry. What a bunch of dickheads.

(So outraged on your behalf that I can really only sputter).

JCbride2015

pinkcow13 said:

Wow, that is infuriating and beyond unprofessional. I'm so sorry that happened.

And why can't they tell you the cost?? Being that they are now doing it in 2 weeks, can they give you the price within that time frame?

Because the girl at the front desk apparently didn't ask the dentist about it before I came in today.  I'm pissed.

They said they will call me later today with the cost.  I really hope that actually happens.

KatieinBkln

JCbride2015 said:

pinkcow13 said:

Wow, that is infuriating and beyond unprofessional. I'm so sorry that happened.

And why can't they tell you the cost?? Being that they are now doing it in 2 weeks, can they give you the price within that time frame?

Because the girl at the front desk apparently didn't ask the dentist about it before I came in today.  I'm pissed.

They said they will call me later today with the cost.  I really hope that actually happens

Holy shit, heads should roll!

Also, they had better be offering you a Friday afternoon surgery appointment.

holyguacamole79

JCbride2015 said:

pinkcow13 said:

Wow, that is infuriating and beyond unprofessional. I'm so sorry that happened.

And why can't they tell you the cost?? Being that they are now doing it in 2 weeks, can they give you the price within that time frame?

Because the girl at the front desk apparently didn't ask the dentist about it before I came in today.  I'm pissed.

They said they will call me later today with the cost.  I really hope that actually happens.

I would think that she wouldn't know the cost bc she's waiting on insurance to tell you how much they will pay ... that's odd that she would have to ask the dentist.  

JCbride2015

She doesn't have to wait on insurance because we know we will hit my insurance max for 2014 and 2015.  They already got back to her.  I also have a rough number for the total cost of the entire process.

The holdup is figuring out how much will be charged for the implant surgery (in 2014) and then how much will be charged for the permanent crowns (in 2015).  That matters for me because it affects my CareCredit payment amount.

holyguacamole79

JCbride2015 said:

She doesn't have to wait on insurance because we know we will hit my insurance max for 2014 and 2015.  They already got back to her.  I also have a rough number for the total cost of the entire process.

The holdup is figuring out how much will be charged for the implant surgery (in 2014) and then how much will be charged for the permanent crowns (in 2015).  That matters for me because it affects my CareCredit payment amount.

That makes more sense.  Still, my dad would not have allowed that crap to go down.  Come to Texas for your procedure and we'll have more margaritas.  Mmmkay?  

JCbride2015

holyguacamole79 said:

JCbride2015 said:

She doesn't have to wait on insurance because we know we will hit my insurance max for 2014 and 2015.  They already got back to her.  I also have a rough number for the total cost of the entire process.

The holdup is figuring out how much will be charged for the implant surgery (in 2014) and then how much will be charged for the permanent crowns (in 2015).  That matters for me because it affects my CareCredit payment amount.

That makes more sense.  Still, my dad would not have allowed that crap to go down.  Come to Texas for your procedure and we'll have more margaritas.  Mmmkay?  

Fi told me the first thing I should do when I get home is make myself a drink.  I just cracked open a beer.  I'm still so angry I'm shaking.

JaniV123

wishing you the best JC!! 

ohannabelle

That sucks.

lc07

That is so incompetent of them. I'm sorry you are dealing with this. 

raissyrais

Fuuuuck that sucks JC, you were so ready! What a bunch of incompetent fools. Damn!

loro929

Damn, that really sucks. I'm so sorry that happened!

theartistformerlyknownas

Omggggg I would be shooting laser beams out of my eyes.

ShellD13

The last time I had dental work done - several gum grafts - while not the same as implants mouth pain still stinks.  The oral surgeon gave me a couple of extra shots of Novocaine just after he finished the work so I had time to get the Rx filled and take one of the pain pills before the novocaine wore off.  Maybe you can ask if that is an option?  @Ohannabelle is absolutely correct.  Start taking them quickly and follow the dosing guidelines exactly!  At least for the first few days - if it says to take every 4 hours regardless of whether you feel pain or not when the 4 hours elapses take it anyway.  The way it has been explained to me is that ibuprofen/acetaminophen type pain meds are better at helping you manage pain before it peaks in intensity.  I'm not sure of the science behind it but I can attest to the fact that it seems true for me personally.

Sorry that you are having to go through this in the first place it sounds like it could have been prevented if your original orthodontist and/or dentist had treated you differently to begin with but I think you will be very pleased with the results.

Good Luck!

KatieinBkln

Re: pain--when I had my wisdom teeth out, I was given both Tylenol with codeine and giant 800 mg ibuprofen tabs. Guess which helped more? Yep, the ibuprofen. The pain for me was mostly caused by swelling/inflammation, so the anti-inflammatory was wayyy more helpful than the narcotic, which just made me feel gross. Also, it didn't so much make my mouth stop hurting as it made me unable to give a shit that my mouth hurt. 

Your mileage may vary, obviously. Good luck for whenever you actually get to have the surgery.

theartistformerlyknownas

ShellD13 said:

The last time I had dental work done - several gum grafts - while not the same as implants mouth pain still stinks.  The oral surgeon gave me a couple of extra shots of Novocaine just after he finished the work so I had time to get the Rx filled and take one of the pain pills before the novocaine wore off.  Maybe you can ask if that is an option?  @Ohannabelle is absolutely correct.  Start taking them quickly and follow the dosing guidelines exactly!  At least for the first few days - if it says to take every 4 hours regardless of whether you feel pain or not when the 4 hours elapses take it anyway.  The way it has been explained to me is that ibuprofen/acetaminophen type pain meds are better at helping you manage pain before it peaks in intensity.  I'm not sure of the science behind it but I can attest to the fact that it seems true for me personally.

Sorry that you are having to go through this in the first place it sounds like it could have been prevented if your original orthodontist and/or dentist had treated you differently to begin with but I think you will be very pleased with the results.

Good Luck!

The ibuprofen and acetaminophen each work for 8 hours, but function and are processed differently from each other. So staggering every 4 hours means your liver doesn't get overwhelmed with either type of medication, and the pain never has a chance to ramp up because one of the two is always working at full strength.

I think my dentist gave me extra Novocaine after my wisdom teeth were extracted, too. He also had me take a Vicodin an hour before we started, but woooo doggy Vicodin and I do not get along. Motrin and Tylenol FTW. And lots of ice. 

levioosa

So lame!  I'm with Katie, they had better be offering you a Friday afternoon appointment as the follow-up.  

I'm also one for just Motrin.  Vicodin makes me super nauseous and when I got my wisdom teeth out, I only took one before feeling so bad I switched to children's liquid Motrin.  Best choice ever.  

arrippa

My implant took almost a year to complete (of course, most of that time was saving up $$ to pay for it) but I did have multiple visits. It was a long process.

climbingsingle

I just saw your update. That royally sucks! 

Cookie Pusher

KatieinBkln said:

Re: pain--when I had my wisdom teeth out, I was given both Tylenol with codeine and giant 800 mg ibuprofen tabs. Guess which helped more? Yep, the ibuprofen. The pain for me was mostly caused by swelling/inflammation, so the anti-inflammatory was wayyy more helpful than the narcotic, which just made me feel gross. Also, it didn't so much make my mouth stop hurting as it made me unable to give a shit that my mouth hurt. 

Your mileage may vary, obviously. Good luck for whenever you actually get to have the surgery.

This was my experience as well, except I got Vicodin. I had all 4 pulled at once (2 required digging into my jaw bone because of fusing, yay?), got anesthetized, and whole nine yards. The Vicodin was only useful the first night when I just couldn't get to sleep from having been sleeping off the anesthesia most of the day. Otherwise, I didn't have much pain, per se. It was mostly swelling and soreness.

sophhabobopha

Sending goooooodddd viiibbbeess!

JCbride2015

Aw thanks everyone!  I am really REALLY frustrated with them but it will get resolved.  My surgery is now scheduled for Wednesday 11/3.  Not too much longer at least.