Long gone are the days where going to the dentist would be this uncomfortable. Unlike getting a leg amputated in the Civil War, one couldn't bite a bullet to deal with the pain of a tooth extraction. Years later, they perfected filling technology and local anesthesia, making a visit to the much less painful (except, maybe, in the wallet). And now, the balance between bodily pain and financial pain is in favor of financial pain, as fewer people fear going to the dentist today than in the past.
Today was my visit to the dentist. In addition to a scheduled teeth cleaning, I got an updated set of x-rays and a dental exam. $500 later, I was out of the office with another appointment scheduled in 2 weeks for a small filling. AARGH! At least I have the money in the bank to afford it. But this is only one of the money sucks that I'll deal with this month.
Sometime later in the year, I may decide to take another (small) distribution from my 401k, this time to finance a dental implant that I've done without for over 10 years. If I had stayed employed with the bank, I'd have done this already. After 10 years, the dentist will have to start from scratch, including a CAT Scan of my jaw to see if I have enough bone mass for the implant.. And this will cost even more money, Not having the tooth in this place has affected how I chew on food. So this may finally be the time I deal with the problem once and for all....
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