grapes

Wow! I didn't think anyone was ever going to respond to my thread, then all of a sudden I have 4 responses. Thank you so much! GoodThings, thank you especially for your tip on Dr. C.

Anyway, here's the update:

The day after my 2.5 hour interview with NM Dentist #2, I had a 2.5 hour interview with NM Dentist #3. I learned that Dentists #2 and #3 had discussed me, and what they would do to treat me in the intervening hours between the two appointments. Dentist #3 wasn't as good a listener as Dentist #2. He talked rapidly, his mind seemed to race (vs. #2 was calmer). Dentist #3 did give me tons of interesting input, however. He said that the NM dentists email each other and Clayton Chan all the time to compare notes and ask questions. It's good, I think that they're not operating out of a vaccuum. Dentist #3 sometimes uses other splints, like anterior deprogrammers for nighttime, versus Dentist #2 just uses the LVI splint. He also seemed more well-versed in other pain therapies. I got the sense that Dentist #3 was more eager to treat, had more time to treat, and had more tools to treat. He was slightly older, slightly more experienced, etc. So, I booked with Dentist #3. BUT THEN....

The Mass Board of Dentistry called. I had inquired about the 3 NM dentists. Both Dentist #2 and Dentist #3 have been dentists for about 24 years. In that time, Dentist #2 had 2 complaints, but Dentist #3 had 7 complaints, plus an "advisory letter" issued by the Board. I cancelled with Dentist #3.

I also called the Board of Dentistry in CA and NV (inquiring about Chan) and in NH (inquiring about NM Dentist #4). All three of those Boards told me that the public is NOT entitled to know if any complaints have been filed against dentists in their states. They only tell you if those dentists ever had their license suspended. Versus, in Massachusetts they tell you how many complaints, the nature of those complaints (ie incompetence, unprofessional conduct, etc.) and how the complaint was resolved (usually dismissed by the Board). In NV, the bureaucrat I spoke to actually scolded me for inquiring about Chan, as if I was doing something unethical by asking if there had been any complaints. This was eye-opening.

I also found out that the $500 an hour dentist I have been seeing has had 6 complaints, mostly about $$$ (overcharging, breech of contract/dispute was financial, misrepresentation, two charges of unprofessional conduct, and one charge of inferior and improper work...all dismissed). Very enlightening! I have very little respect for most dentists, given that they have ruined my life (starting with orthodontics at age 13), so I tend to think that at least SOME of the complaints have plenty of merit, even though the complaints were dismissed by the Board (the Board of Mediocre Dentists, probably).

NH NM Dentist #4 finally spoke with me over the phone. He sounded rushed and not at all eager to take my case. He didn't sound like he had more experience than the other 3 NM dentists. He did admit to having some tmj cases with "unstable bites" that he hasn't been able to resolve. He told me my bite is probably very unstable, and that if he were me, he'd only go to Dr. Chan at this point.

So, I called Chan's office, and a woman asked me a bunch of questions, told me I'd be a difficult case (even for Chan), told me the cost (he's right up there with my $500 an hour dentist)...I'd be spending well over $100K, plus travel, lodging, time away from work, etc. She asked me several times if I had the money. I said not THAT much. She asked me what was my religion (I found that intrusive) and she suggested that I pray (also inappropriate).

After all of this burst of effort ending in a quagmire, I collapsed.

Then, I emailed Dentist #2 and was straight with him about the things I learned, and why he seemed to be my best option. I figured I should tell him what happened, because he and Dentist #3 have discussed my case, and seem to be in the same study-circle. And, I cancelled with Dentist #3 very abruptly after hearing from the Board. Dentist #2 said he was willing to take my case. He said I should call Monday morning if I want to proceed (he could make time for me on Thursday.)

So, now I'm trying to get calm and decide if Dentist #2 is the way to go. If I DON'T go with Dentist #2, then I see that I will have to travel FAR AWAY to find a dentist fully trained in NM, or a more functional (as opposed to conventional, which I've already tried) approach. I love the sound of that Dr. Miller (I think he's in Seattle) who has HAD iatrogenic tmj and sounds truly informed, sincere and for real. But, I just don't have that kind of money. In the past 6 years, I have spent almost $200K on this problem, and as things stand, I would have been better off just flushing that money down the toilet.

Or, maybe I SHOULD go into massive debt, max out my credit cards, etc. But what if it doesn't work? Already I have a 15 year old car that's falling apart, I lost my house, I'm pretty much slumming it as it is. Every cent goes down the dental hole.

You know, when I hear some people complain that so-and-so dentist is EXPENSIVE because they've paid $2000 or $15,000, or whatever, I feel like they're in the MINOR league in terms of what I've spent. Am I the biggest $$$ sucker on this board?