By Edwin Cooney
Approximately ten days ago, I developed a toothache so I contacted my dentist who takes my insurance coverage.
She is a very nice person and I like her even today. When I called her office, they agreed to see me immediately — which I had expected.
Her assistant took me into an examining office and put an X-ray device into my face. The consequences were immediately obvious.
My lower left molar was cracked and one of the two roots had dissolved. What my dentist didn't tell me was that my body had been eating the deteriorating root and had been poisoning me. Next came the really bad and painful news.
My dentist tole me that she used to extract teeth but she no longer does. When I walked out of her office, I only had an adequate prescription for pain and for destroying the infection that was present.
She proceeded conscientiously to refer me to a dentist who does remove bad teeth and who would take my insurance coverage. Hence I called the office to make an appointment.
When I called, I selected the wrong department and got the “new patient” receptionist rather than the person who handles appointments for current patients. I was told that they couldn't take a new patient until November. I immediately asked the operator how long she could stand a toothache and she proceeded to scold me for rudeness. I didn't apologize. However, I called the office once more and this time I was connected to the right department. I gave my name and this receptionist said that they had gotten a request that morning from my dentist regarding my need. However, I was still informed that they couldn't remove the tooth until November! I was still incredulous, but I took the November appointment.
A day later, a friend and fellow Lions Club member recommended me to a dentist friend of his who promptly offered to remove the tooth the following morning and that's exactly what he did. Although he doesn't accept my insurance, I agreed to be one of his patient should I need another tooth removed in the future. However, I still have several questions.
Assuming it is legal for doctors to determine what they will or won't do, what are the parameters for emergency medical or dental care? One friend of mine said that if I had walked into an emergency room, I would likely have found a dentist who would have removed the tooth.
However, I consulted my close friend Tom who began by saying that my problem was due to modern healthcare. "You mean Obamacare?" I inquired. No, he told me that it was due to the profit motive. Why, he asked, should a dentist remove a tooth for three or four hundred dollars when a root canal can be performed for a few thousand?
Can a heart specialist treat a patient for a heart condition and then let that patient just die on the occasion of a heart attack, I wondered? Are patients who are being treated for stroke prevention subject to the same delays as toothache patients?
I don't at all mind the cost of an emergency tooth removal. Currently, I can afford an emergency. However, not everyone can.
My closest friend named Steve (I have many friends named Steve!), tells me that years ago as a contractor he was advised that you can't discriminate against a potential customer due to racial or ethnicity, but you can deny service to someone because he or she is an undependable jerk! Didn't the consumer protection agency — or Ralph Nader — tackle this problem many years ago?
My advice is both obvious and simple!
Find out if and how your personal dentist is prepared to help you with an old-fashioned toothache.
If your doctor equivocates or confirms your fear, drop the doctor like a bad molar!
Bad teeth and bad politicians have a lot in common, don't they?!
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY
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