So...prior to all of the other doctors getting involved, the oral surgeon wrote my OBGYN a note advising that I had an infected tooth and a hole in my sinus that needed to be filled with a bone graft.
He asked me to pay in advance for a surgical extration (the co-pay) and the bone graft. A total of about $1000.
After all of the other doctors got involved, reviewed the xrays and his letter, and I questioned it, the oral surgeon said that he was just preparing me for the worst case scenario. He said he saw indications in x-ray of a likely sinus communication. No other doctor saw any such indication.
Surprisingly, when I went to the appointment for removal, he only asked me to pay $35 co-pay for a non-surgical extraction. The extraction took 2 minutes, and he said it came out beautifully and there was no sinus communication. That was on Friday. Today is Monday and I feel great and extraction seems to be healing nicely.
I honestly believe, if I had not questioned it, he would have made me pay $1000 in advance and done an unnecessary bone graft.
Very disappointing. He was caught!
Aney
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryanna
Aney,
Without seeing an xray I can only go by your description, therefore, I cannot tell you why the oral surgeon recommended a bone graft. In general, the specialist who would be the most knowledgeable and diagnostic with a tooth and sinus communication is an oral surgeon because he is the one who deals with this type of situation every day. Periodontists specialize in the health of the gum and bone level. Some perform this type of extraction, but not usually. Xrays can be very deceiving and like anything else, some dentists are definitely better at reading them than others.
I am the first to admit that some dentists are not ethical. But I don't think an oral surgeon would suggest an unnecessary invasive procedure on a women who is 7 months pregnant. It's just too huge of a risk to his reputation. Perhaps the oral surgeon was preparing you for the "what if's" rather than definitively stating you needed such and such??
I would sit down and go over everything with this oral surgeon prior to having the tooth removed OR seek a second opinion from a different oral surgeon.
Let us know how things go...
All the best to you!
Bryanna
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