I was in agonizing, searing, throbbing pain due to a mystery toothache that radiated from the entire side of my lower left jaw. I saw my general dentist as an emergency visit, who took x-rays, couldn't find the problem, and referred me to an endodontist in the area. Was told that they even had a 3D x-ray machine and would be able to pinpoint where the pain was coming from. That endodontist laughed when I asked if he had a 3D x-ray machine and proceeded to take x-rays DESPITE the fact that I already had a high quality copy of x-rays that were taken just the day before...That endodontist couldn't find the right tooth from where the pain was coming from and had very poor advice on how to manage the awful pain. The pain was left untreated through the miserable weekend. I went back to work whimpering and whining about how much pain I was in to anyone who would listen.
A co-worker had something similar happen, where dentists couldn't pinpoint which tooth the pain was coming from. She said I had to see this amazing endodontist waaay over in St. Charles. She said he was very gentle, didn't make it painful despite the pain she was in, and was very high tech.
I scheduled an appointment ASAP and received an email with a link, password, etc. to register online instead of having to go through all the typical paperwork in a dental/medical office.
So I drove 45 minutes to get there and upon entering the office, it was so refreshingly modern, simple yet very stylish and elegant, I didn't think I was at a dentist's office. There was no clipboard with overly xeroxed copies of copies of registration paperwork so I sat in their stylish waiting area for a few minutes before a strapping guy came rolling in with a bag of toilet paper over his shoulder and rolls of paper towel under his other arm. I thought he was a tech but he stops with a warm greeting and introduces himself as Dr. Habas, the endodontist. He quickly explained that he just made a "Costco run" and would be with me shortly. Okay - honestly - I was so amused by the fact that the doctor went out on a Costco run to haul toilet paper and paper towels back to the office. Can you picture your dentist or doctor doing that on their lunch break?
He immediately came back into the lobby and brought me to a large, airy, beautifully decorated room with shiny new equipment. This is the treatment room? Really? Wow. Dr. Habas was personable and listened to my ailments and frustration of not being treated with the pain for an entire week. He - unlike the first endodontist - asked me if I had copies of my x-rays - which was so greatly appreciated because all those x-rays add up to $$ and means more radiation (although minute). Unfortunately, I left my x-ray copy with the first endodontist (who never used them)...
Dr. Habas had his slick equipment set up with a monitor that showed all the information that I entered online during the registration process. Now that is incredibly efficient and high tech for a dentist's office! So Dr. Habas proceeded to take digital x-rays which showed up immediately on the monitor. He did the same sensitivity tests that the other dentists had done, looked at the same x-rays the other dentists had looked at, and found the culprit. While his office DOES have 3D x-ray equipment (CT scanner for the mouth), he didn't even need to use it! He found it using the same methodology and technology that the previous dentists used. Dr. Habas went to great lengths to explain what happened with my tooth like I was back in college, listening to a fascinating lecture.
Then the 2 hour root canal therapy began. Dr. Habas was very patient, gentle, methodical, and used this cool waterproof stretchy plastic sheet to cover my entire mouth except the culprit tooth - which was awesome because it prevented any of the tools, medicine, or other liquids from getting in my mouth.
Dr. Habas provided an explanation of why I should have used Advil instead of the weak Tylenol 3 and gave me a prescription that effectively managed the declining tooth ache. The receptionist gave me Dr. Habas' cell phone number and I thought that was interesting. Within hours, the searing, radiating pain I had for an entire week started declining and at 8:30pm, I get a call from a random number and it's Dr. Habas checking in from his cell phone to see how I was doing?! Since when did dentists/doctors make HOUSE CALLS ANYMORE? Back in the 1800s right?
Later I told my wonderful referrer about the experience and she said he gave her a house call, direct cell phone number and all that jazz! With someone who provided the level of service he and his staff provided, it warranted - no, BEGGED - for me to write this epic saga of a review. And I always talk about how I need to write reviews but never do...but this was totally different. I was compelled. read more
