After the numerous fuck ups from WNY Dental I went back to Dr. Wood on Franklin. He is really my preferred dentist but its expensive because because my insurance doesn't cover anything there.

On the other end of it, the 3D milled teeth fit so perfectly it unreal and I went from consult to new tooth in about an hour.

The process is really futuristic and involves a lot of computing so I enjoyed it from that angle as well. They basically take a 3d sketch/measurement of the parts of remaining tooth. Then the cerec machine comes up with a general design to fit. Then the dentist custom tailors it and it gets 3D printed/milled right in the office. When it done milling they test out the fit, then they bake it in a kiln of some sort to finalize it and its adhered to the base of the remaining tooth. You can eat on it right away pretty much.

The crown that was replaced had already been redone twice and was flat, had multiple drill holes from redone root canal from when the WNY dental dentist missed a root and I had to get it redone by their endodontist. To top it off, it had a big pocket between it and the next tooth where debris would buildup after every meal and cause inflamation and cavities. Now it's a nice tight fit.

After the old crown was removed and decay was drilled out of the adjoining tooth.







And when it was complete.

I want teeth that look like that.



Last year I tried to be cheap and got a regular crown at the regular in network dentist and it ruined like 6 months of my life in pain and infection, as well as, cost me another broken tooth in the process. I wrote about it here (e:paul,54524)

Then I found Wood Dental Associates on Franklin in North in Buffalo and his expensive ($1200+) but awesome cerec tooth milling machine which measures you tooth space with 3d cameras and mills the tooth in the office out of this strong and chemically inert ceramic. I love the new fake tooth. It fits so well, is strong and feels just like a real tooth. To me it was totally worth the money and made me feel confident about my tooth and the dentist.

So I had a couple other fillings done there because they don't use mercury unlike the in network dentists and its right across from my house. They were also expensive in the $600 range but I figured it was worth it not to get more mercury in my mouth. At that point, I signed up for a regular cleaning and thought I would go there as my regular dentist.

I figured how much can a cleaning cost. Today, I found out when I went in for my scheduled 6 month cleaning. When I sat down for the cleaning the hygenist said that they no longer do normal cleanings and that first this Florida Probe machine would check my mouth for any issues. I thought it was some pre-cleaning process but once it was done, she told me instead of the normal cleaning I would need a $1099 3 visit special cleaning with the antibiotic called Arestin implanted because I had stage 4 periodontal disease.

Reading the testimonials is a mixed message. Who is this appealing to, the dentist or the patient.

Our proportion of non-surgical perio revenue jumped 100% since 1999, when we implemented Florida Probe. The real value for the patient is that because he understands his problem earlier and better, he acts (prevents bone loss) earlier."

The overview page makes me even more uncomfortable

This part sounds good and reasonable

Improved Accuracy
The System’s constant-force, computerized probe allows measurements to be consistent between examiners who likely probe with different amounts of force (which could mean different readings for the same patient). Our probe’s precision is 0.2 mm., which also improves the accuracy of measurements and assists the clinician in determining the correct diagnosis and follow-up for the patient.

This part sounds beyond scammy.

Generate New Revenue for Your Practice
Did you know that just 1 more quadrant of scaling and root planning acceptance per day at $250, working a 4-day week, adds $50,000 per year to your bottom line? This is only the beginning: 3-month re-care, adjunctive therapies and diagnostic fees add to this hygiene-driven increase in production. This means an incredible return on investment opportunity. The typical practice will increase hygiene and perio production by $10,000 per month.

Now the weird part is that I was just in to their office in June and they didn't mention anything about gingivitis and then I was at the other dentist twice in the last three months for the geographic tongue and he and his team of student dentists didn't mention anything either. Now I get that maybe the machine is more sensitive and can detect stuff but I can't believe I went from not humanly noticeable to full blown $1099, you need to be on antibiotics, stage 4 periodontal disease. If the machine is really correct, are these dentists so clueless that they could not visually recognize this possibly severe tooth disease in the last 6 months.

My lame GHI dental insurance will only cover like $200 at his office. Although, they would cover the scaling in full at any in service dentist. After my bad experience with two in service dentists I don't know if I want to go back. I know why they cover it in full, its because those other dentists are willing to trade quality for quantity of patients. For example, GHI doesn't really pay them much more, those dentists are just willing to accept $35 as full payment for some procedures.

I want a dentist I trust in so bad. Even more so, I want to trust this dentist so bad. In fact, I trusted him so much more until I read the Florida Probe site. I guess I will get a second opinion. In the mean time I need to brush better. I think one issue is that I was using a medium instead of soft brush which was hurting my gums.

Two things that also bother me about this.
1. I flossed just before I left which could have irritated my gums a bit.
2. The measurement is really not done by the machine, if you watch the video, the hygienist really does makes the decision when to press the floor peddle which sets the depth.



Does anyone have a dentist they really know and trust?

Knowing me, I will probably just go there because it is convenient and immediate. The more I read about gum disease the scarier it is. Check out this crazy info on the NY times site I am saving as PDF for future reference. ::READ PDF::

Here is all my private tooth information for the world to judge me on.

Besides the weird nerve shooting pain from the drilling that has kind of lingered, the new tooth is amazing. It looks totally real and feels real in consistency and texture, unlike the old fake tooth. I honestly think you couldn't even tell.

Today I got the crappy infected metal crown from Advantage Dentistry removed and replaced with a ceremac one that is designed by a computer and milled in a 3D printer while you wait. I know the one was infected not just because it hurt but because it smelled gross when it wads removed, disgusting.

I wish so bad that I could have been knocked out for tthe crunching smashing part. The noise will be in my nightmares forever. Its almost like a really intensified version of the sound you hear when you accidentally get sand in your mouth.

To my dissatisfaction I ended up with a whole lot of metal splinter shrapnel in my cheek from when they sawed across the metal filling. I did't notice it at first because of the novacaine. Then my cheek started to hurt and when I ran my tongue against it it cut my tongue. So I looked in the mirror, thinking wtf can this be and I see all this "glitter" embedded in my cheek. It is not easy to tweezers metal splinters out of the inside top of your cheek.

The fun continues next Monday with more fillings. They couldn't so the opposing ones today bbecause it was hard to be sure of my bite with the novacaine.

The tooth itself hurts so frickin bad right now I can't even concentrate. There are these awful random zinging pains. I hope this is not normal. I am taking tylenol PM now and calling it a day.

I wish I could take back all of the candy I ate as a child at this point.