I never had a good time at the dentist; I used to have very bad brushing habits, to the tune of 'what's the point, nobody likes me' (I had a sucky social childhood; videogames were my friends), so I did not care for my appearance, or my teeth, so of consequence, my teeth are forever weak, and I had alot of metal fillings. Plus some bad dentists, I was very depressed about it, so it was a big boost for me when I went to Poland and pretty much got every metal filling taken out and replaced with resin tooth-look-alike-- for about $1,000 US, for quite alot of fillings. I've gotten alot better, but my teeth will remain weak for the rest of my life.

Then, because I was too old, I was no longer eligible as a dependant under my dad's work's dental insurance (which was really good and gave us pretty good rates). I didn't take advantage then to have extractions, and insurance ran out, when both of them (I only have them on the tops, not the bottoms).

I managed to find another insurance because Costo can provide, in California, dental insurance for their Exectuive Club members, which I have, through my mother. It's not as good as the other one, but obviously alot better than nothing.

Then a lower molar cracked-- I've gotten, both by choice and nececcisty, a few crowns done, all molars if I remember right, and one of the few that remianed had so many fillings that the tooth crown was pretty busted, but also didn't take advantage of it because the dentists said there was little to no room to do it (because a very early metal crown just above it had moved downwards).

Well, finally got around to getting insurance and a dentist, and after an exam where they pulled +$4,000 out of somewhere, I managed to take care of the immediate of
1) the two wisdom teeth that had began to hurt, $160 total--- with gas would have been another $84, but I decided to forgo it. Sicne it was pretty 'standard procedure' extractions, I have not even bothered taking any pain killers besides the supra-novocaine (whatever it was) that they injected with me there at the dentist (I try to advoid sedatives when I can: in the case of the gas; expense. And for novocain; dislike of needles and the lingering numb feeling, which made me feel horrible in youth about how expensive it was to take care of me)
2) the cracked molar, $350 prep, and another $350 when the crown comes--- which will prolly be forced to wait untill after thanksgiving holiday, unless it comes early and an appointment time opens up
and also:
3) I apparently have early stages of gingivitis, mostly due to not having my teeth cleaned at a dentist in over a year, plus apparently my flossing skill (which I had been doing... but unfrequently; mostly only when I felt something stuck, and on whim perhaps 2-3 times a week to every other week) isn't as good as it should be, so I need to get a deep cleaning of my whole mouth, which is $320 basic procedure, plus they want $40 more per tooth for a bunch of teeth they want to put some kind of antibiotic in. I talked to them, and they say 'it won't be as good, but it'll be a huge step in the right direction' if just the deep cleaning (which I think they let slip that novocain is reccomended for) but not the antibiotic.

Coming to about $1,180 jsut this month, plus they said there's several other teeth they not also want to crown, but recrown, and I imagine that's where the other $3,000 they first showed me is, though obiously I already took a chunk out of that, plus I think there's a few miscounts they ddi, because they kinda overwhelmed me at the first appointment, so I gotta see what they meant, now that I got the stuff I realy needed to take care of done first.

Well, I mentioned some crowns I already have were by choice? (well, to the extent that I felt I had to, or they'd break like this molar did) I believe I can get alot cheaper, as one of the by-choice ones was done in Mexico, in 4 days flat, durring a vacation to visit my grandmother in Tijuana, to a dentist that was just down the road from her home, and that one turned out pretty good--- since these are all molars, I don't mind they're not as... 'streamlined' or high-end in appearance, since that's not how I smile (ie; rarely would anyone see my molars, so as long as it's not a metal color, I'm good).

To make a long story short; I had some immediate problems that're costing me now, but ugently needed to be done since it was causing trouble; before, I hesitated because they were expensive (but less expensive than now, tho), but at least I'm getting them done.
So I don't have to burden myself with too much at once, I'll wait untill at least this important batch of extraction (done, but waiting for the holes to heal), the crown (the setup complete, just need to install the crown), and the deep cleaning (which will be the same time as the installation, but dunno how itself will go, nor how much effect it'll have without the reccomended antibiotic) is complete before addressing the other stuff. I hope to do what I can for cheaper elsewhere, but we'll see.
For now, I just wanna heal from the exrtactions.

I know others (and have friends that) have worse teeth and insufficent/no insurance, but I have alot of anxiety problems about my teeth, due to all the pain that..... ultimatley, was my own fault, due to the small mistake of not brushing enough-- a mistake that I can't take back, besides by (my parents) paying so much money and me enduring so much pain.