Same thing happened to me, I had a root canal, and then he capped the tooth (to save it) I had terrible pain for almost a year, but I just kept taking pills cause I HATE going to the dentist! I finally went to a new one after I moved, he wanted to 'save' the tooth too, I insisted he just remove it, saved a fortune in charges and no more pain!

I had a tooth pulled in the UK (the only tooth I have ever had pulled) now my US dentist wants to put a bridge in, after insurance cover their bit it will cost me $1700 out of pocket.

My experience is overall US dentists are better than in the UK. However, I still remember my first visit to a US dentist in the San Diego area. I felt like I had been to a used car dealer and barely escaped. Apparently, after establishing through smooth friendly talk that I could pay.... ie. where do u live, what do you do etc... According to this dentist I needed approx $25,000 of work doing which he would be happy to guide me through the process ( or reliev my checkbook more likely).

Happily, 9 years later I have had none of the 'suggested' work done. I have in my opinion an excellent US dentist who has never taken me down the would you like to buy.... route.

Beware of smiling charletons in white coats!!

On the subjects of dentist, why do they call themselves doctors? So they sound more important?

We haven't had a knockdown, drag-out dentist thread in ages

I'm very happy with the dental work I've had in the US. Due to extreme wear on my teeth (& resulting messed-up bite) I had a complete reconstruction - 28 crowns. Cost a fortune but I'm very pleased with the result and my problems are over.

My last (but not future) dentist wanted to do that to me too, to be honest, I would be just as happy to have the bloody lot of them yanked out and start again with 'plug-in's'

Last week my dentist tried to talk me into having a cracked wisdom tooth extracted...he said it would be much cheaper than a crown. I'm having a crown. Same dentist also told me that spending $600 to whiten my teeth would be a waste of money as there would be no noticeable difference.

same reason consultants still like to be called Dr over here

Hmmmm. I just took my 9 yr old daughter to a dentist and was alarmed when he took one look and said "I'm afraid she is going to need rather a lot of complicated orthodontic work!" You should have seen the look on my poor daughters face!

It is true that she does have an over-bite, but he really put the wind up us by saying first she will need to have jaw bone realigned and then they can start readjusting the teeth with braces. I have no idea how much this will all cost but it I'm guessing over $20,000, would you say?

This guy is supposed to be excellent, by the way. He was voted amongst Americas Top Dentists between 2002-2004... hope his work ethic hasn't dropped since then!

Get a second opinion before you commit to this and ask him if hes thinking of retiring in the near future.

Yep, my brother in law was told he would need $8,000 worth of work in Miami... he decided to get a second opinion back home in Israel where funny enough they told him there was nothing wrong with his teeth!!!!

Unless it's affecting her speech or ability to eat, I'd pass.
It seems all the friends I have here who's kidlets had braces and orthodontic work done at 8 and 9 years old, have ended up having it re done in the teen years. They kept going on about my oldest needing his eye teeth pulled straight, he wouldn't let them touch them, and low and behold they have fallen into place on their own (took till he was in college mind), one is slightly off, but not noticable.
Younger Ds has an overbite and is also not interested in braces, he looks fine, and as he gets older (he's 15 now) the overbite has become less pronounced.

So... I turn 26 next month and the day before my birthday I'm booked in to have my FIRST EVER FILLING. It's my first experience of American dentists and my first proper dental work (other than three wisdom teeth being ripped cruelly from my teenage gums at 17) and I'm a little nervous. Hope I can eat my lovely birthday dinner the next day.

My own fault for not going to the dentist in nearly two years. Ho hum.

Wish I'd got to 30 without a filling though...

I needed extensive dental work.... my teeth were horrible (yes I'm British!!)... I was ashamed to smile!!
A UK dentist wanted to charge me $30,000 for the work....
A US dentist wanted to charge me $24,000

I hopped on a plane to Hungary and had wonderful work.... including 10 days' accommodation..... it cost me $8,000 !!!

It was done 3 years ago..... the best money I ever spent.... my teeth are 100% perfect... and my self-confidence is really restored now!

I'd recommend Hungarian dentists toanybody!! My daughter works for British Airways in London.... she and all her colleagues get their dental work when they go to Hungary!!

A guy in my office has some colleagues who specialize in 'medical tourism'; they arrange for overseas medical procedures. Interesting concept! Go to beautiful places ... Meet interesting people ... spend the whole time in pain or sedated