I am brand new to this forum and need some help.
Here is my story...

I went to a new dentist yesterday for a cleaning...the first I have had in two and half years. I am unemployed with no insurance. I have never had a cavity, brush at least 3 times a day, floss daily, yada yada. When I made the appointment I told them I have a severe fear of the dentist and would need nitrous to get through the visit.

After waiting for nearly 30 minutes in the waiting room listening to the drills and such, they finally call me in a take xrays. They tell me I have bacteria below the gum line and they'll need to do FIVE sessions of root planing and scraping so my teeth don't fall out. They tell me I my jawbone is deteriorating from this bacteria. This is going to cost me $1300.00 and they don't have a payment plan. They say I once they start the planing, bacteria will be released in my mouth which can go into my blood stream and give me a heart attack, so they will prescribe an antibiotic rinse. Mind you, my gums do not not bleed when I brush or floss and I take VERY good care of my teeth.

So the hygenist gets in there and cleans all over the mouth, not just the first quadrant as the dentist explained. She says everything's coming off very easily and there's little bleeding. She says my gums are very tight and my deepest pocket is a six (at the back where my molars are). She expresses this to the dentist and feels I will only need TWO more cleanings, not FOUR more. He says "well we really wont know until we get in there". Then no one seems to know what that first visit costs so the dentist says 1/5 of $1300.00 and they don't prescribe the antibacterial rinse! They basically scared the living daylights out of me, had me hyperventilating in the chair because of fear of pain as well as the cost and don't seem to know what is going on!

I told this story to my mom and best friend who both told me the dental industry, like any other service industry, is hurting because people don't go to the dentist every six months anymore, so they're using scare tactics to get people in the chair. I seriously don't know what to do! I do not have the money but am afraid to lose my teeth! but they look and feel FINE!!! can anyone advise?

Thank you.