Open Wide

10.20 am Saturday : in the dentist chair: mouth open like the opera house

Dentist: This tooth is going to require root canal treatment.

John: Oh. Is that the same as a root canal?

Dentist: Yes

John: But you said last time it wasn't a root canal? You said it required a filling.

Dentist: Yes. I was wrong.

John: But you took me through the xray and explained to me how it required a new filling

Dentist: Yes the xray was wrong.

John: I thought you were wrong.

Dentist: Sometimes xrays can be misinterpreted.

John: I thought root canals were supposed to be painful.

Dentist: Normally they are but the nerve in this mollar appears to be dead.

John: When did it die?

Dentist: It's hard to tell.

John: Wouldn't I've known?

Dentist: What do you mean?

John: Well surely I would have felt something when it died.

Dentist: Not necessarily. Sometimes nerves just die without pain.

John: Half their luck. So how much will this cost?

Dentist: Well this particular root canal is quite complex; I would have to refer you to a specialist.

John: Is that because the nerve is dead?

Dentist: The root canal has gone all the way to the bone.

John: Well isn't that what a root canal is?

Dentist: Yes essentially. But this is a complex root canal.

John: I can see that. How much?

Dentist: Because it will be done by a specialist, most likely $2500 for the root canal treatment then $1500 for the crown.

John: And I've already spent a $1000 on the original filling treatment which cracked in the first six months.

Dentist: Yes

John: This will be a $5000 tooth.

Dentist: Yes

John: What's the point of saving it?

Dentist: As your dentist I have to urge you to save every tooth but...

John: Every tooth is sacred is that what you're saying.

Dentist: Yes.....there is however only a 60% chance of saving the tooth through the root canal treatment.

John: So I will be spending $5000 on a tooth that has essentially lost it's mind, can't feel anything and has a 40% chance of not surviving anyway.....

Dentist: Yes

John: Would you spend five grand on a holiday where you've got a 40% chance of being killed?

Dentist: No

John: Exactly. When can I have it extracted?

Dentist: Next Saturday?

John: Lock it in.

C