Nomad, I am sorry you're experiencing these dreadful consequences from dental procedures. I have had extensive dental procedures for decades. Initially when I was 17 my parents family dentist pulled a tooth and left part of the root in my mouth. I won't go into all the details, but it took years and many different specialists to correct the initial damage, finally resulting in a bridge. However, it also caused periodontal problems. I couldn't possibly add up all the time and money I spent fixing that problem.
I've had excellent dentists and poor dentists and now I consider myself an expert on dentists. Recently I had been going to a dentist for over a decade when he decided he was going to semi retire and brought his son, his daughter and his daughter in-law into his practice as partners. As he began stepping back, the 'kids' changed his staff and the prices for all procedures went up substantially, suddenly you had to ask for the discounts you had been given freely before; every single time one of the new dentists looked in my mouth, there was something in there which was going to cost me thousands of dollars. I got really fed up with all of it and when the hygienist in this office was suddenly fired after years and years, I contacted her because I trusted her and asked her to help me find another dentist. I interviewed new dentists for over 6 months based on her recommendations. I needed a GP and a specialist for an implant I needed. Since implants cost about $5000 with everything, I wanted to find two excellent dentists. It took awhile and a commitment on my part, but I found them. One thing that really struck me right off the bat is that I had a 4 point bridge which felt loose. To replace this would be over $4000 and I had asked my former dentist if there was a way it could be removed and replaced with new 'glue' without breaking it. He said no. When I posed the same question to the new dentist, he said, "we have a device (which he showed me) called a "bridge remover" and so you are aware, it could break the bridge trying to remove it, but in your case, I think we can do it." I said, "let's give it a try." He tried and was completely successful. So, I think back to my former dentist and wonder, is it possible he never heard of a bridge remover?" It sure feels like it was all about money.
When my granddaughters dentist told her she needed braces the dentist gave me two referrals for orthodontists. One told me she needed a retainer, cost: $2,000 with all the visits for as long as it took. The other one told me she needed a full set of braces, cost: $10,000 with more expense for the future retainer, etc. Even my granddaughter said at the second interview, "I only have one tooth slightly out of place, I think this dentist is ripping us off."
Dentistry here in CA. is now 'cosmetic' dentistry and the costs have sky rocketed, with so much emphasis on making each smile gorgeous, it's been difficult to find a dentist who just fixes what's wrong, but after persevering, I think I did it.
My SO had problems with his former dentist and he went to the organization in CA. who oversees dentists, I forgot their name. But he made a case and won and was rewarded all charges and the dentist also had to pay back the insurance company. You could go that route if you believe there was incompetence or poor dentistry of any kind.
I'm sorry, you've really been through the mill on this one. It may be prudent for you to have your heart checked, since dentistry can impact the heart. I don't want to unnecessarily frighten you, but one of my best friends got an infection in her heart at 35 years old from a dental procedure, she still takes medication for it. I don't know how they check for these kinds of things, but if you're concerned about it, get your heart checked, you've turned over every other rock, one more won't hurt. I feel so bad for you, what a nightmare you've been through. If it were me, I would have my heart checked. ((((HUGS)))))
I've had excellent dentists and poor dentists and now I consider myself an expert on dentists. Recently I had been going to a dentist for over a decade when he decided he was going to semi retire and brought his son, his daughter and his daughter in-law into his practice as partners. As he began stepping back, the 'kids' changed his staff and the prices for all procedures went up substantially, suddenly you had to ask for the discounts you had been given freely before; every single time one of the new dentists looked in my mouth, there was something in there which was going to cost me thousands of dollars. I got really fed up with all of it and when the hygienist in this office was suddenly fired after years and years, I contacted her because I trusted her and asked her to help me find another dentist. I interviewed new dentists for over 6 months based on her recommendations. I needed a GP and a specialist for an implant I needed. Since implants cost about $5000 with everything, I wanted to find two excellent dentists. It took awhile and a commitment on my part, but I found them. One thing that really struck me right off the bat is that I had a 4 point bridge which felt loose. To replace this would be over $4000 and I had asked my former dentist if there was a way it could be removed and replaced with new 'glue' without breaking it. He said no. When I posed the same question to the new dentist, he said, "we have a device (which he showed me) called a "bridge remover" and so you are aware, it could break the bridge trying to remove it, but in your case, I think we can do it." I said, "let's give it a try." He tried and was completely successful. So, I think back to my former dentist and wonder, is it possible he never heard of a bridge remover?" It sure feels like it was all about money.
When my granddaughters dentist told her she needed braces the dentist gave me two referrals for orthodontists. One told me she needed a retainer, cost: $2,000 with all the visits for as long as it took. The other one told me she needed a full set of braces, cost: $10,000 with more expense for the future retainer, etc. Even my granddaughter said at the second interview, "I only have one tooth slightly out of place, I think this dentist is ripping us off."
Dentistry here in CA. is now 'cosmetic' dentistry and the costs have sky rocketed, with so much emphasis on making each smile gorgeous, it's been difficult to find a dentist who just fixes what's wrong, but after persevering, I think I did it.
My SO had problems with his former dentist and he went to the organization in CA. who oversees dentists, I forgot their name. But he made a case and won and was rewarded all charges and the dentist also had to pay back the insurance company. You could go that route if you believe there was incompetence or poor dentistry of any kind.
I'm sorry, you've really been through the mill on this one. It may be prudent for you to have your heart checked, since dentistry can impact the heart. I don't want to unnecessarily frighten you, but one of my best friends got an infection in her heart at 35 years old from a dental procedure, she still takes medication for it. I don't know how they check for these kinds of things, but if you're concerned about it, get your heart checked, you've turned over every other rock, one more won't hurt. I feel so bad for you, what a nightmare you've been through. If it were me, I would have my heart checked. ((((HUGS)))))