I first contacted Dr. Trieu & Preservation Dentistry after getting a treatment plan from another…read moredentist local to me. I hadn't been to the dentist in several years, so I expected that I would need some work. What caught me off guard was a plan approaching $9,000, including being told that one of my teeth needed to be pulled. I decided I wanted a second opinion before moving forward.
I reached out to Dr. Trieu that same weekend, and he personally followed up with me, even on a Saturday evening. We had a good conversation before I was even his patient. One thing he emphasized from the beginning was trying to preserve natural teeth whenever reasonably possible instead of automatically moving toward the most invasive option.
When I came into the office, he took his own X-rays and had a different assessment. The biggest concern was a very deep cavity getting close to the nerve. Rather than immediately extracting the tooth or going straight to a root canal, he explained that we could remove as much of the decay as possible, restore the tooth, and then give it some time to see how the nerve responded. If it didn't work, the root canal option would still be there.
About a month and a half later, I'm glad we took that approach.
For the first few weeks, I could occasionally feel a slight twinge and was hesitant to put much pressure on that tooth. Over time, though, it improved. By around the fifth or sixth week, I realized I really wasn't noticing it anymore. No pain, no real discomfort, and I could bite down normally without the sensation I had been concerned about.
So far, the more conservative approach seems to have worked, and that is something I really appreciate.
I also liked that he didn't rush to use all of my annual dental benefits at once. I still have other cavities that need attention, so the plan was to give this tooth some time first. If it continues doing well, we can use the rest of my benefits toward the other work and continue after my benefits reset.
I was comfortable enough with my experience that I referred my wife to him as well. She had undergone a root canal at Upland Endodontix about a month and a half earlier and still needed her permanent crown after wearing a temporary. She saw Dr. Trieu about a week after my treatment, and she also had a very good experience.
After being away from regular dental care for eight or nine years, I know I have some catching up to do. What I appreciate is feeling like there is a plan and that the goal is to preserve what can reasonably be preserved instead of jumping immediately to more aggressive treatment.
Dr. Trieu has been knowledgeable, patient, accessible, and flexible throughout the process. I still have more work to get done, and I plan to continue coming back to Preservation Dentistry.
I'm glad I decided to get a second opinion. So far, it has worked out very well for both me and my wife.
