Dentist office scheduling annoyance

[Susie]

I need to vent about my dentist's receptionist for a sec.  Ok if I do that here?

I have my regular app't scheduled for 5/14.  Calvin has his on 4/29.  I called to see if they'd swap us, since I feel like I'm getting a cavity in a wisdom tooth (I've had two in two other wisdom teeth before), and I have a bunch of travel in early May that I'd like to get it seen before.  Calvin's 4/29 app't is 6 months + 1 day since my last app't, so I figured, golden!  Insurance requires 6 mos.  Plus, I'd really like to move up my app't because 5/14 + 6 mos. = 11/14 (a Sat).  So the soonest I could possibly be seen for my next app't would be when I am 39w2d.  I don't know, seems like a scenario that it might be helpful to avoid?

The receptionist gives me this WHOLE runaround about how she's been doing this for 23 years, and she never schedules patients that close to their 6 month mark.  (Ahem, Calvin's existing app't is at 6 months + 2 days!)  I asked if it would actually be a problem to do at 6m1d, or if it was just a "most conservative plan" type of thing - because for the previously given reasons, I would REALLY like to swap with him.  Wouldn't budge.  Just kept repeating "I've been doing this for 23 years..."  Yes, I get it.  Sigh.

So now I have an appointment on the AM of 4/29 for my wisdom tooth, Calvin goes in the same afternoon for his cleaning, I go for my cleaning 2 weeks later, and I'm stuck with being w/in days of my due date for my next app't if I can't get in earlier off a wait list.  Most of which was probably preventable if we could just swap, sigh. 

So now that you've made it this far, have a cookie, and tell me -- if I can't get the cleaning done before 5/14, when would you schedule the next cleaning for?  One of the days between 39w2d - 39w5d and hope for the best, cancel at worst?  Or just push it out another month or so?

[Koala]

I'd probably not worry about it and push your next cleaning out another month or two. Good luck with your cavity though. That sounds painful!

[madringal]

Annoying! But did you tell them you are pg? I don't think you can have any dental procedures when pg. Am I wrong?

ETA- just reread where you did tell them.  Ignore me!

[noodleoo]

That is SUPER annoying!!! Sucks to have to go back twice within just a few weeks. Yeah, I'd probably just push the next cleaning out a month or 2 if you are worried it is too close to your due date.

My doctor had no problem with cleanings or cavity fillings while pg. The dentist did skip x-rays at my last visit, just said we'd do them next time after the baby.

[ebeth]

I'd schedule the appointment for 39 weeks. If you can't keep it, oh well.

But also call your insurance company. They may cover extra cleanings when you're pregnant. Mine covers 3 this year because I'm pregnant. So I went in February and will go back in May and then again in early August

[dojo]

I'd keep the cleaning appointment. You never know what's going to happen. I'd rather chance doing it before the baby arrives than scheduling for sure after the baby arrives because it's more of a PITA to work around nap schedules / feeding schedules / getting someone to watch the baby for you. Ultimately, if you go early you will have to, but at least if you keep your current appointment you have a CHANCE at doing it pre-baby.

[Koala]

I just can't imagine laying in a dentist chair at 40 weeks pregnant. But, I also hate going to the dentist.

[Susie]

Apr 23, 2015 11:35:03 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

My doctor had no problem with cleanings or cavity fillings while pg. The dentist did skip x-rays at my last visit, just said we'd do them next time after the baby.

Yeah, my OB specifically mentioned at my last appointment that I should keep up with regular dental cleanings while pg.  No problem; I go 2x/year anyway and always make the app't for the next one at the previous one.  I will pass on x-rays until after the baby though.  If it does turn out that I have a cavity I'm assuming it'll be a pretty simple fill like the last two.  

I just hope he doesn't want them to come out; I'd really rather avoid doing extractions while pg.  When I had the first two wisdom tooth cavities filled he said he was fine with repairing wisdom teeth as long as it wasn't chronic; if it became chronic I would have to get them out.  I'm not sure whether "same issue, different wisdom tooth" constitutes chronic or not.

[noodleoo]

Apr 23, 2015 12:15:24 GMT -5 Susie said:

Apr 23, 2015 11:35:03 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

My doctor had no problem with cleanings or cavity fillings while pg. The dentist did skip x-rays at my last visit, just said we'd do them next time after the baby.

Yeah, my OB specifically mentioned at my last appointment that I should keep up with regular dental cleanings while pg.  No problem; I go 2x/year anyway and always make the app't for the next one at the previous one.  I will pass on x-rays until after the baby though.  If it does turn out that I have a cavity I'm assuming it'll be a pretty simple fill like the last two.  

I just hope he doesn't want them to come out; I'd really rather avoid doing extractions while pg.  When I had the first two wisdom tooth cavities filled he said he was fine with repairing wisdom teeth as long as it wasn't chronic; if it became chronic I would have to get them out.  I'm not sure whether "same issue, different wisdom tooth" constitutes chronic or not.

Yeah, I'd probably wait until after on an extraction too. My dentist wanted to replace one of my silver fillings and I decided to wait on it.  One because of the mercury potential and two because I was still gagging when brushing my teeth, so I didn't want to deal with it.  I'll have it done after baby.  But I was fine for the cleanings.

[runblondie26]

Most dental insurance companies cover 3 cleanings in a coverage year when you're pregnant. I'd check with your carrier, as that would solve the issue since your cleaning would only need to be 4 months apart.

[meltoine]

I'd call back and ask for the office manager or send a letter to the doctor. It's stupid that you have to go twice and pay two copays in two weeks. If they still won't budge I'd probably be looking for a new dentist because that's a stupid way to run an office.

But go ahead and schedule for 39w. If you have to cancel, remind them of this when you do so they feel silly.

[starburst604]

What a pain. I think I'd just schedule for after the birth. Right now I'd be really uncomfortable laid out in a dentist's chair, since they have you almost flat. I was due for my cleaning right around my due date so I pushed it off a month and I'm glad I did. I was a little woozy after laying flat even for a pretty quick ultrasound this afternoon.

[aprilsails]

My dentist wouldn't schedule an appointment for me during my final month. She said it's miserable and that being in a reclined position like that on your back is really hard on you and baby during the final month and that I wouldn't be able to breathe properly.

So I pushed one of my appointments up and another one further back. They should be able to get you in for a cleaning whenever. This 6m+1 day bullshit is bullshit.

[Susie]

So it turns out that all's well that ends well with this whole debacle. I went in for my app't today to check on the wisdom tooth, and the hygienist said she could clean my teeth while I was there, no problem -- she said 6m+1d would be fine for insurance. So now I can cancel the app't in 2 weeks when I was supposed to have the cleaning done, and my next app't will be a couple weeks earlier than it would otherwise have been. I'll only be 36-37 weeks, which I can handle. As a bonus, I didn't actually have a cavity, it's just a bunch of inflammation around my wisdom tooth. They blamed it on pregnancy hormones.

[achi]

I'm glad it all worked out. I really don't know what the receptionist's problem is. So long as it's within the limits set out by the insurance company why does it matter to her if that's not the way it's done in her x years of experience? People have lives and schedules and other things going on in their lives that need to be worked around. Geez.