Monday, July 2
Monday morning I kept my scheduled appointment with Lake Erie Dental. I informed Dr. Sambuchino that I was in extreme pain and wanted #30 extracted. I also informed the Dr. Sambuchino, that I had a regular dentist, whom I had been seeing for 20 years, and that I trusted implicitly. But my dentist did not do tooth extraction on a molar because it would have been considered a surgical procedure, and he is a simple family dentist practitioner. Dr. Sambuchino then looked at #30. And took X-rays. Dr. Sambuchino then told me that both #30 and #31 were both impacted and needed attention immediately. They were, however, very "fixable" with root canals, which he could perform immediately. When he asked me if #31 hurt, I told him no, and I just wanted #30 extracted. Then, I told him, that I had a root canal scheduled with Dr. DeMarco, but due to the abscess (ation?) and the extreme pain and discomfort, I wouldn't be able to wait until August. Dr. Sambuchino then informed me that he could do them both immediately. And that he would prefer to save both #31 and #32, rather than remove them. I told him, I didn't come for 1 root canal, let alone 2, and that I just wanted the tooth gone. I also told him that we were leaving for a vacation around 2pm that afternoon, up to Niagara Falls for the Fourth of July holiday, and that I just wanted to be able to enjoy my vacation pain free. He assured me that it would be possible, and after the root canals everything would be back to normal and I would be pain free. At this point, I'm crying, the pain is unbearable, and Dr. Sambuchino just stood there and stared at me waiting. Then his staff started coming in the exam room one by one, telling me how great it will be, and how much better I would feel after. One after the other they came in. I'm crying and curled up in a ball on the chair because the pain is unbearable, and they're trooping thru the exam room telling me all the reasons I need this root canal. At one point I asked the life of a root canal with a crown, and some blonde woman told me about 5 years. I told her I just didn't see the logic in paying so much for something that wouldn't last very long. Then the next person came in and told me that she had had one done, about 10 years ago, and hers was still as good as ever. She told me I wouldn't be sorry. Everything would be fine, and I would be better for it. I informed Dr. Sambuchino I just wasn't comfortable with a root canal and that I would just prefer to have it removed. He just kept standing there watching me cry. I felt trapped and utterly helpless. Around me the nurses, assistants, and staff kept coming in and out telling me how much better it would be for me. And that this was the right decision.By this time, I'm in so much pain, I'm feeling extremely nauseous, my ears are ringing, and I had this metallic taste in my mouth, and the next thing I remember is somehow two hours later, I'm finished, and the assistant is putting in what she called "temporary" crowns with an adhesive cement. They told me that the permanent crowns would be made up in a lab, and shipped to the office. When they arrived, they would call me and set up an appointment for placement. I was told that the pain would be minimal, and easily managed. I was also told that by tomorrow, I should be back to normal. Or at the most 2 days. Somehow I had just gotten the root canal I had told them I didn't want.
My husband wrote them out a check for $560.00. Not really sure what had just happened, he was confused and being worried about me, he just wrote them out a check for the amount they had asked for.
We received a prescription for Amoxicillin, and Vicodin from the Dr. And later that afternoon left for Niagara Falls, Canada on vacation.
Later that afternoon, the local wore off, and the pain was a 10 out of 10. I had expected this, and although not happy I managed it with the prescriptions. TO THIS DAY these teeth still hurt and cause me discomfort. I'm furious, and throughly disgusted at the way I was bullied, coerced, and basically forced to go thru with something I neither asked for nor wanted. Like Vicki says... Stay AWAY from Dr. Sambuchino.
0 comments