Why is it so hard to find a good dentist?

In my case, it's because all the good dentists won't take my normal insurance anymore. The only ones who do are sketchy foreigners who appear to be 12 years old, and/or two babies in a trenchcoat.

I LOVE my dentist. If anyone in Portland is looking for a recommendation let me know. He's the best health care professional I've ever had in any field. A warm, kind perfectionist, his whole practice feels like a family, it's very nice. I found him after I fled a traumatic horror show of a dentist, to my enormous relief

[quote] I fled a traumatic horror show of a dentist, to my enormous relief

One of the dentists I went to was obviously abusing drugs (probably prescribed to himself).

I can't even describe the fear I felt when this guy was working on me.

Imagine a crack addict about to drill inside your mouth, and that's what it was like.

I never reported him, but it was terrifying.

I love both my periodontist and prosthodontist (especially the latter). Neither take insurance, though, and I have to pay out of pocket. That said, they are both completely worth it and I've been with both for decades.

R2 thinks there's only one Portland in America.

But of course that is what identifies precisely where she is.

How nice for her.

OP, your case makes no sense.

If a crown is not possible, some sort of amalgam stuffed into your "far left bottom tooth" hole (It's called "the second molar, bottom left, although "molar" would have been sufficient to describe the chew pattern/food packing that causes pain) would seem to be a normal thing to do.

Of course, with you it could be your third molar ("wisdom tooth"), since you seem to be posting from India.

Or have the disgusting, rotten thing cut out of your head.

I have a good dentist but I still think they are all mainly about billing & insurance. They want you to keep having multiple cleanings and procedures even if you don't need them.

The cap came off, R6.

And none of the dentists I've visited have ever suggested putting it back on. Which is weird.

The tooth should be dead after the root canal, which is why I'm wondering why I'm still feeling pain!

R8 you may have an infection elsewhere- what does your periodontist say?

R8 Get it removed or fixed, do a go gofundme or whatever. You can't run around with a rotting tooth, damn.

Schedule an appointment with an endodontist. They specialize in root canals.

OP, when my lifelong dentist finally retired at age 88 (!) I tried the dentist who took over his practice. She nearly killed me -sent me to the ER with overdose of lidocaine. I asked a few friends, and they all liked their dentists, but didn't have any solid reasons why. Finally, I got inspired and asked my doctor to recommend a dentist. He did, and he gave me medical/technical reasons. I've been very happy ever since.

OP, if you're having pain you might have an infection. See someone soon.

Yes - endodontist.