serverandenforcer 33 Posted September 23, 2010 ...will I ever go to a military dentist to get work done. Had to go into LA Air Force Base today because I've been having sharp pains behind my bottom left wisdom tooth. The dentist took a look at it and said that the wisdom tooth had to come out because it was causing an infection. I asked if it's possible to get a referral so I can see my civilian dentist. He said it would be possible, but claimed that he has been doing this for 6 years in Osan. So I said ok to get the work done right there... BIG MISTAKE!!! When they start the process of getting everything numbed up, this fool jams the needle all the way in, unlike my civilian dentist who does it gently and gradually so that you don't feel any pain at all. I almost punched this guy. Right there I should've canceled it, but I figured I was all ready in the motions of getting this done. The best part about this is that he messed up on the first attempt, so he had to do it again! I swear I will never see this place again... EVER!!! Anyways, I'm still not feeling enough numbing so he has to stick me a third time!!! About 10 minutes later they start working on extracting the tooth, which ended up being a 45 minute job of yanking my jaw around, cutting, prying, cutting some more, and a lot more prying. They ended up having to cut my tooth into four (4) seperate pieces to get it out. What a freaken nightmare this was. Once everything was done, the moron had the nerve to ask how I thought it went. I told him that he sucked and that my civi dentist could take him to school. After that, I had to wait 45 minutes to get my prescription of meds from the pharmacy... I have to say, Tylenol 3 rocks! I popped that in once I got home and havne't felt any pain for the past 7 hours. It did knock my @$$ out though for the first 3. Anyways, if any of you here are in the military and have to see a dentist... DON'T GO TO THE MILITARY DENTIST!!! Ask for a referal to see your civilian dentist. After all, you do pay for what you get, and since military is free, well you're going to get what comes with free. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Dave 2,322 Posted September 23, 2010 Dave Been in the war for almost 20 years. Never has a military dentist do me wrong. In reality 38 years, because growing up in an USAF family, all I saw was USAF dentist. Not one time did I have a problem. I think you got a bad dentist. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+daddyairplanes 10,258 Posted September 23, 2010 like anything you get some good and some bad. i was double booked for my wisdom teeth extractions and the novocaine wore off before he started. on the other hand my root canal went so smooth i dont understand what the big fuss is about. but i agree.......tricare is free and you get what you pay for! (united concordia for my rivet counting friends out there) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FastCargo 412 Posted September 23, 2010 SaE, Don't believe just because its a military dentist that wisdom teeth extraction is going to be bad, or because its a civilian dentist that it will go well. My wisdom teeth came in all correct so they weren't pulled when I was your age. I just had them all pulled a month ago, and it took 3 weeks just for the pain to finally go away (and I was taking vicodin), and there is still swelling around the lower sockets. The docs confirmed to me that a couple of the teeth took significantly more effort to pull out (some in pieces) than the x-rays and visual exam indicated. There was only one time that I had an issue with a military dentist and he actually was a civilian contractor because he didn't know how to use an ultrasonic pick well. But then again, I never had a cavity until a couple of years ago, so there never was much to any dentist visit (military or civilian) except a general exam and cleaning. FC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Erik 1,812 Posted September 23, 2010 I had a civilian dentist when I was a kid in college, (Reed I think his name was), who was an ex-navy dentist. I absolutely miss that guy he was phenomenal. I went to him on a referral being on a limited budget in college for the same exact thing impacted wisdom teeth one lower on the right side and one upper left side and I very clearly remember the horrible pain. So anyway I'm not really looking forward to this as I had then heard horror stories about people having wisdom teeth pulled. He sits me down and hovers over my mouth a couple minutes and says he can see the two inflamed teeth clearly as they've started to crown but the other two aren't anything to worry about yet. He then goes on to tell me that I have two options. Do the procedure twice at different sittings or have him pull them all now which might result in a little more discomfort for the two not visibly crowned. He then says don't worry I've done this same procedure on 40 foot seas and in forward triage, he was very matter of fact and calm. Trusting him I said just pull them all then. He numbed me up and went to work. Four shots, two upper and two lower, and 30 minutes and he had all four teeth and I didn't feel a thing other than some pulling but very minor. Not a single suture and to this day when I see my current dentist he's always amazed I had the teeth pulled conventionally and not by an oral specialist. So I'm not sure what happened S&E but I'd have to say you definitely had an odd turn of events. From my experience I'd say you just got someone who wasn't experienced whether military or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JRP1973 5 Posted September 23, 2010 (edited) I had 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed about 12 yrs ago by a Army dentist in which 2 of the 4 teeth had to be broken into 4 pieces. Know the feeling :) I still have one of those pieces still in my jaw he said it would have caused nerve damage trying to take it out. Never the less it sucked..lol :) Edited September 23, 2010 by porterjr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+CrazyhorseB34 937 Posted September 23, 2010 (edited) I was a 19 yo PFC in Friedburg Germany and had four wisdom teeth removed in thirteen minutes! Got 24 hours quarters to boot! Never had a problem with any dentists uniformed or civilian contracted in 20 years in the Army. As stated before you drew the short straw. Edited September 23, 2010 by CrazyhorseB34 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
serverandenforcer 33 Posted September 23, 2010 Well I guess I'm one unlucky SoB then. I will still prefer my civilian dentist over anybody else though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gepard 11,324 Posted September 23, 2010 Military dentists are all the same, all around the world. Either you has healthy teeth or you has no teeth! Better to go to the civilists Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast 153 Posted September 23, 2010 Must admit I got to see a bad Dentist as well as a good Dentist in the RAF... and damn the worst one had to remove a damaged tooth, playing rugby and taking a high tackle with a fist involved didn't help... but it took him 25 minutes to get the tooth out even after saying it was a simple easy matter to do so,and it hurt like hell even though I was numbed up to the eyeballs... Another high tackle another tooth a different dentist 2 minutes and didn't feel a thing... Now I get to see a Civvie Dentist here in Vienna... He's Icelandic I am English and in Vienna... it costs a bit more as he's private but he is damn good... not had any problems with him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted September 23, 2010 I had all 4 removed at once in college by my regular dentist. They were in, but my mouth wasn't big enough for all those teeth, there was some serious crowding, so they had to go. Unfortunately for both me and him, my roots were deep and he had a hard time getting them all out. He was gripping so hard that a couple of them shattered before he could get them to budge. Never had any pain, though, aside from the initial needle stinging a bit. I had no painkillers but regular Tylenol that my mom gave me I think. Only thing that sucked was one of the clots in the upper sockets fell out that night. Grossed me out so much I almost puked, which would've been very bad with 4 open holes in my jaws! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MigBuster 2,884 Posted September 23, 2010 crikey I Didnt realise how wrong it could go. Had a Wisdom tooth out around 5 years back that was sticking into the side of my mouth. One injection, a pair of pliars and a cracking noise and it was out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nesher 628 Posted September 23, 2010 maybe the Doc wasn't good but maybe the problem was tooth itself.. complicated than usual even in the IDF the dentists I had were better than my brother's civilian dentists.. feel better! Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ezlead 42 Posted September 23, 2010 If the guy is good,he will usually be good regardless of civvie or military. If he is bad,he will be bad. Period!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capitaine Vengeur 263 Posted September 24, 2010 "Military medicine is to medicine what military justice is to justice and military music to music." Well, a thought from 19th century, I think. Many things have changed since. Safe for music. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
