Please DO YOUR RESEARCH for whomever is entering your mouth. Do NOT be afraid for "second opinions" or to ask for "more painkiller, please." I did not visit a

Please DO YOUR RESEARCH for whomever is entering your mouth. Do NOT be afraid for "second opinions" or to ask for "more painkiller, please." I did not visit a dentist but a few times before my mid-30's... and only then because an online friendship turned out to have been with a local dentist. In the past few years I have spent tens-of-thousands of USDs restoring what even once-daily brushing could have prevented. Even when I was finally able to afford dental implant restorations, I waited years out of surgical fear. My main dentist really dislikes his job (we are friends, professionally), wishes he was a CostCo manager... and I really am only able to visit dentists because I know he has great attention to detail. But he is not "bad," despite the occassional dental re-work. He owns his own practice (rare) but is about to be wiped-out by familial cancer — we are the same age, started out on same medical timeline. I know he doesn't charge enough for the quality he delivers, but fear his practice may soon be up for sale (and likely purchased by mega-corp investors). Please stay away from the big-chain places, and particularly credit-issuing platforms. I wouldn't feel comfortable enough doing this now (as it would require multiple visits over several months) but if you "just" have a lot of cavities, or need crowns... travel abroad and pay much less for similar services (e.g. along Rio Grande/Baja Calif.). I am so grateful for my dentist, and wish him well in his human struggles.