the Price of Emergency Dental Care

I had an X-ray taken, was given pills to sedate me, was given gas, and had a tooth extracted.

The first visit was for X-rays but that visit and the films were included in the price of the extraction, which occurred at the next visit. $45 was for the sedative and $75 covered everything else.

I was in pain and the dental office got me in right away, much to my relief. An X-ray was taken and I was told I had two choices, spend over $1500 on a root canal that was going to be a temporary measure, or have the tooth extracted. I chose the latter.

I went in for the appointment and was given the sedative. I began to relax and was then brought back to the oral surgery area where I was given gas. I woke up during the extraction which was rather traumatic. I wish I would have known that was a possibility.

In less than 24 hours, my face became swollen and bruised. There was no one in the office during the weekend, and by Monday my face looked awful. I called to see if it was normal and was told that it happens sometimes, but that I could come in immediately for an exam if I felt I needed to do so. Everything was fine.

It would have been nice to be warned about such a possibility, but I did appreciate them seeing me right away to address my concerns.

Do not be afraid to ask questions about any type of medical or dental treatment you are receiving. Ask what to expect during and afterward. Ask if there are any important signs or symptoms to watch for, what to do if they occur, and how you can reach the provider outside of office hours if necessary.

We assume we will be informed of potential issues, but that is not always the case, so it pays to ask.