I saw oral surgeon Dr Joy Wang at her office in Sunnyvale just one day after meeting with Dr Wendy Lu. The 12pm appointment was supposed to be a mere consultation, but things escalated quickly. After the X-rays + CT scan, Dr Wang offered to do the tooth extraction of my lower left molar right away.
After thinking things over, I agreed. It’s nearing the end of 2022, so doing the $673 extraction now would leave more insurance money for the $2000 implant next year. Those 20min were tough, but I survived.
I already knew about the price, but one thing I learned about was the long recovery period. I have to wait 4–6 months after the extraction before an implant can be performed. After the implant is done, I have to wait yet another 4–6 months before the crown can be placed.
Basically, I have to eat soft foods and chew mainly on the right side for close to a year. That sucks, but at least it’s better than having to do that forever (aka what would happen if I had chosen the other options Dr Lu provided).
PS: before leaving, Dr Wang hinted ominously that another extraction could be needed; another one of my molars also looks weak and might need replacing.
