Wellness

[Tinkrbl44]

Years ago, I went to a good dentist and there were several in the practice.  I got my cleanings, fillings and even crowns done with the same office.  Easy peasy, and very competent people worked there.  

Fast forward to now ... 

I now have new dental insurance and have been looking for another "full service" practice in my area.   The previous dentist I had a couple years ago (with different insurance) did the cleanings etc, but for any root canals, crowns, etc, we'd be referred to another practice at another location.   

I am wondering if this is now how things are done these days ...  Obviously I will call my insurance company to verify, but am curious if this is common in other parts of the country.  

Do you have a "full service" dentist, or do they refer some procedures to specialists?   

What's your experience with this?  TIA 

[Sooner]

For the past at least 25 years I have gone to an endodontist for root canals.  I feel that they are far more experienced and equipped for one. 

I think in the future I would go for a crown to someone other than my regular dentist.

[godi]

It is here in Pa. where I live. I had a tooth fall apart and I couldnt get an appointment for the pulling for 3 months! Can you imagine? I got lucky a friend told me about a dentist office in a hospital in Pgh. They got me in right away. 

[jlkz]

@Tinkrbl44 

PA: I just had a very old crown removed because decay underneath.  Had a root canal been necessary, my dentist would have done the procedure.  He invests heavily in his large tech assistant staff ( several other dentists also in the practice.

His equipment is state of the art....no mouthful of weird stuff to create the new crown.  It was as though a magic wand went around the upper side and lower teeth to get a perfect fit.  All electronically created.

When he dropped out of Cigna network to go with Delta Dental, I was right behind him this summer !

Good Luck with your search !

[On It]

My dentist here in West Texas refers root canals to a practice of doctors who only do root canals. When my tooth was too damaged to be saved by a root canal, that practice referred me to an oral surgery practice in an adjacent building. I called my dentist for help in deciding if I wanted an implant, but she did none of the specialized procedures.

A few months later I chipped the corner of my front tooth. I thought my regular dentist would just smoothe the edges of the chip. Instead she perfectly matched my tooth color and put some type of prosthetic veneer over the chip. My smile and appearance look like nothing ever happened. She took care of that problem in her office very quickly.

[geezerette]

My dentist also does crowns and root canals.  But he recently has hired a colleague to do the more extensive work like implants (which he used to do himself also).

Like @jlkz , my dentist has invested in a lot of the high tech equipment that makes things like crowns a lot easier for both him and the patient.

[RedTop]

Years ago my dentist referred all root canals and wisdom teeth extractions to specialists, so I assume he still does.  

[Scooby Doo]

It depends.  My dentist can do it all for some people. However, he referred me to a specialist for root canals and another for extractions of my wisdom teeth.  He said he didn't want to do mine because my roots are long and skinny and he doesn't think he has the proper tools.  He's done all my crowns and they are excellent.

[CatsyCline]

When he was building his practice my Dentist did everything but cleanings.   Now he has partnered with his Dentist son and they have specialists on-site. He would still do crowns  for me though;  i'm one of his first patients. If i needed to have Oral surgery he would refer me to an associate. 

[Kachina624]

@Tinkrbl44    Yes, that's the way its done nowdays.  Furthermore, as dentists retire their practices are being sold to large corporations where patients are treated like objects on an assembly line with a dentist running from one small exam room to another making quick, expensive assessments.  The most important aspect of your business is your credit card and your insurance.  It's all about the $$$.  I'd even venture to call many of them scammers.

My dentist retired and my subsequent experiences have been a nightmare.  I'm going every six months for a cleaning to a different one, hoping I'll find one I'll like.