I’ve heard about dental schools too, but honestly, part of me gets nervous about students working on my teeth... maybe that’s just my control freak side talking.
I totally get where you’re coming from. The idea of a student poking around in my mouth made me uneasy at first, too. I ended up going to a dental school for a crown a couple years back—mostly because the cost was about half what my regular dentist quoted. I was surprised by how closely the instructors supervised everything. Honestly, the student spent more time double-checking things than some dentists I’ve seen. Still, it’s not for everyone. If you’re the type who likes to know exactly who’s doing what, it might not be worth the extra anxiety.
The insurance thing drives me nuts, though. You’d think after paying into it for years, it’d cover more than a fraction of the bill. But yeah, pain relief is priceless. I always remind myself that at least I’m not up all night with toothaches anymore... even if my wallet’s lighter.
I’m right there with you on the nerves—I put off going to a dental school for ages because the idea of students practicing on me made my stomach flip. But my regular dentist was just way out of my budget, so I finally caved. It actually surprised me how careful the student was, and the supervising dentist checked every little thing. Not gonna lie, I gripped the chair a bit tighter at first, but it turned out fine. Still, I think it’s totally normal to want more control over who’s working on your teeth. For me, the price difference was what tipped the scales.
And ugh, insurance… don’t get me started. I swear, it’s like playing the lottery with what they’ll cover. But yeah, just being able to sleep without tooth pain is worth a lot.
But my regular dentist was just way out of my budget, so I finally caved. It actually surprised me how careful the student was, and the supervising dentist checked every little thing.
That’s reassuring to hear. I’ve been putting off making an appointment for ages because I keep imagining worst-case scenarios—like a student accidentally drilling the wrong tooth or missing something important. It’s probably irrational, but the idea just makes me tense up. Still, the cost is such a huge factor. My insurance barely covers anything, and even then it feels like a gamble.
I keep reading stories like yours and it does help a bit. The idea that “the supervising dentist checked every little thing” is comforting. Maybe it’s actually safer in some ways since there are more eyes on the process? I guess my biggest concern is not knowing exactly who’s working on me, but maybe I’m overthinking it.
Honestly, the pain from this tooth is starting to outweigh my anxiety, so maybe that’s what’ll finally push me to go. If you don’t mind me asking, did you have any issues with recovery or follow-up care at the dental school? That’s another thing I keep wondering about.
I get where you’re coming from—trusting someone new with your teeth is pretty nerve-wracking. But honestly, my experience at the dental school was smoother than I expected. I did have to wait a bit longer for appointments and sometimes saw different students, but they always had the supervising dentist double-check everything. Recovery-wise, it wasn’t any different than when I’d gone to a private office. If anything, having extra people involved made me feel like nothing would slip through the cracks. Cost was the main reason I went, and in the end, that peace of mind plus saving money was worth it for me.
I totally relate to the nerves around seeing someone new, especially for something as intimidating as a root canal. It’s wild how much our brains hype it up, right? I had a similar experience at a dental school clinic—honestly, I was expecting chaos or, at least, a lot more discomfort. But like you said, “
,” and that extra layer of oversight actually made me feel safer than I did at my regular dentist’s office.they always had the supervising dentist double-check everything
The waiting part is real, though. The first time, I was sitting in the chair for what felt like forever while the student checked in with the instructor. But once they got started, it was smooth sailing. The pain relief after was such a game-changer—I’d been putting it off for ages out of fear and ended up just kicking myself for not doing it sooner.
Cost is no joke either. My insurance barely covered anything, so paying out-of-pocket at the dental school saved me hundreds. That said, I know some folks get frustrated about seeing different students each visit. For me, it was worth it. I’d rather have a fresh set of eyes every time than risk someone missing something because they’re too familiar with my chart.
One thing I noticed: the students were super careful and explained every step. I almost felt like I learned more about my own teeth than I ever did with my regular dentist. Maybe it’s because they’re still in learning mode and want to be thorough, but it made me feel included instead of just being another patient on the schedule.
If anyone’s still on the fence about going to a dental school for something like a root canal, I’d say weigh the pros and cons—but don’t let fear of the unknown keep you in pain. Worst part for me was honestly just the sound of the drill... which, let’s face it, is never fun anywhere.
