Looking for a specialist...

I’m looking for some recommendations too.
My main issue is that I am TERRIFIED of going to the dentist.
I somehow forced myself to see my former dentist, but it was an absolute disaster—she would schedule me twice a month just for five-minute appointments, she refused to even look at a second tooth until the first one was completely finished, and she was just so tense and rude... especially when I’d admit I was in pain or feeling scared. In the end, I just stopped going altogether after three months of trying to fix one single tooth, only for her to decide the treatment was "too complicated" and tell me to just get it pulled. Then, she suggested I pull the neighbor tooth too—which she hadn't even attempted to save! To make matters worse, her associate took over the case, but wouldn't continue because they couldn't move forward until that first tooth was dealt with... honestly, it was a nightmare. 👎
Now my teeth feel like they've been through a war zone, and I'm even more anxious than before 😢😢 it's clearly time to start a rescue mission.

Can anyone recommend a dentist who actually knows how to handle patients with anxiety? Someone who genuinely wants to *save* teeth rather than just pulling them? It would be amazing if they could handle a few things in one visit—like two or three fillings, or at least part of a procedure and a filling where possible—so my visits don't turn into years of five-minute traumas.
Does such a person even exist who takes Medicare? Private clinics are my absolute last resort, because I think I'd go broke just trying to cover $10000...

Karen Ortiz83 said:Ugh, I need a recommendation too.
The thing is, I am TERRIFIED of going to the dentist.
I forced myself to see this one dentist before, but it was a total train wreck—she’d schedule me twice a month for like five minutes at a time, refused to even touch a second tooth until the first one was totally done, and she was just so cranky and rude... especially when I’d admit I was scared or in pain. Eventually, I just gave up because after three months of working on one single tooth, she decided it was "too complicated" and told me to just get it pulled. Then she suggested pulling the neighbor tooth too, which she hadn't even bothered to look at! Her replacement tried to help, but the original lady wouldn't let her continue until the first tooth was finished... absolute nightmare. 👎
Now my teeth look like they went through a literal war zone, and I'm even more paranoid than before. 😢😢 It's high time I start some damage control.

Can anyone recommend a dentist who actually knows how to deal with anxiety? Someone who actually wants to *save* teeth instead of just ripping them out? Ideally, someone who can knock out a few things in one go—like two or three fillings, or at least move along the treatment so it's not just a series of five-minute traumas stretched over years.
Does such a person even exist who takes Medicare? Private clinics are my absolute last resort because, honestly, the bill would probably cost more than $10000...

My advice:😳 Go to the police academy; they have a great dentist there. He’s got tons of patience, he doesn't lose his cool, and he actually gets you in without making you wait forever.
His name is Hrvoje Blazic and he takes Medicare.☕👍

I’ll add my two cents here—I’ve had some pretty terrible experiences with dentists too. 🤷

The internet is just flooded with ads. Everyone claims they’re the absolute best, but how are you supposed to know who’s actually telling the truth? 🙄

That's why word of mouth is everything. It would be great if more people shared their actual stories and recommended private practices that are truly reliable. 😉😁

Betty White42 said:Honestly, I gotta jump in here too—I’ve had nothing but bad luck with dentists lately. 🤷

The internet is just flooded with these ads, right? Every single one claims they’re the absolute best, the "gold standard," whatever... it’s all noise. 🙄

That’s why you can’t trust the hype. You gotta go by word of mouth. It would be killer if more people shared actual experiences and dropped names of private practices that actually know what they're doing!!!!! 😉😁

My dentist isn't even a private practice, but he’s legit. He’s constantly cracking jokes, keeps things light, so you basically forget you're even terrified.👍👍👍👍😉😉

Amanda Rogers22 said:😂😂😂😂🤣

so, is sandblasting actually better than just a standard cleaning?

it's kind of like a mini power wash for your teeth... uses high pressure to blast off grime and polish things up. supposedly it doesn't hurt, unlike ultrasonic cleanings which can be a bit much. I say supposedly because the ultrasonic one didn't even bother me. 🙂
hard to tell if my teeth actually look any better now, at least regarding the polishing part. 🤷

Karen Ortiz83 said:I'm looking for recommendations too.
My main issue is that I am TERRIFIED of going to the dentist.
I somehow forced myself to see this former dentist, but it was a total nightmare—she’d schedule me twice a month for basically five minutes, refused to even look at a second tooth until the first one was finished, and she was just super tense and rude, especially when I mentioned I was in pain or scared... eventually, I just gave up because after three months of working on one tooth, she decided it was just too complicated and told me to go get it pulled. Then she suggested I pull the neighbor tooth too, which she hadn't even tried to fix! Her replacement took over the case, but wouldn't continue because they couldn't until the first one was done... just awful. 👎
Now my teeth look like they went through a hurricane, and I'm even more anxious 😢😢 I really need to start saving them.

Can anyone recommend a dentist who actually knows how to handle nervous patients? Someone who wants to save teeth rather than just pull them? It would be great if I could get a few things done in one visit—like a couple of fillings or part of a treatment plan—so my appointments aren't just five-minute traumas stretched out over years.
Does such a person even exist who takes Social Security Administration coverage? Private clinics are my absolute last resort, because honestly, there's enough work in my mouth to bankrupt $10000...

I already mentioned that I used to be really scared too. I didn't see anyone for almost five years because everyone I went to worked through the Social Security Administration and did a lousy job. Like I said before, Dr. Miller is great and I recommend him to everyone; his prices are pretty reasonable compared to most. He’s definitely not the only good one out there, I just know him among the few who actually do good work.
But, look, if you haven't taken care of your teeth or if you've dealt with bad dentists, you have to realize you probably won't get it all for free. I didn't get mine for free either, but I don't regret what I spent. I’d definitely end up spending way more elsewhere, and who knows if I’d even be happy with the result.
P.S. Dr. Miller saved a tooth for me that my old dentist definitely wouldn't have; he would've just told me to pull it, like he did to my brother. He fixed two teeth for me, which cost about $2,400 total—way cheaper than two implants, which run about $1,000 each plus the crown being $200. So, you decide if it's better to have had it "free" or to pay a little less for someone who actually knows their stuff. A dentist's primary goal should be saving teeth, not pulling them like they did to my brother and then suggesting an implant. 👎
Of course, maybe those two teeth couldn't be saved, but that same idiot drilled right into my other brother's root, causing an infection, and he couldn't even figure out what he'd done wrong. Luckily, that brother got a job abroad where a different dentist fixed the tooth and explained exactly what happened, and ended up asking what kind of dentists we have here in America. 🤣

So, bottom line. Take care of your teeth. You might as well spend your money on blondes—specifically the ones who can cook and don't talk too much. 🙂

mistyranger11 said:Air polishing is basically like a high-pressure mini wash for your mouth. It blasts away the grime and polishes the teeth smooth. Supposedly, it doesn't hurt, unlike ultrasonic cleaning which can be a bit tender. I say "supposedly" because even the ultrasonic scaling didn't really bother me. 🙂
It's hard for me to tell if my teeth actually look any better now, at least when it comes to that polished finish. 🤷

Thanks, mistyranger11... you always come through for me... haha😁

I could really use some advice!
I am currently searching for an agency that offers comprehensive home healthcare services, including assistance with daily chores and meal delivery. I'm looking for options for elderly or disabled individuals who aren't ready to move into an assisted living facility yet, but can no longer manage cooking or cleaning on their own due to ongoing health issues.
I haven't been able to find anything particularly helpful through my own research, so if anyone has firsthand experience with reliable providers or knows where to start...
THANK YOU!🙂

Take a look at this
http://www.domovi-za-starije.com/hr/...njega_zg1.html

Samuel Morgan9 said:Take a look at this site
http://www.domovi-za-starije.com/hr/...njega_zg1.html

Thanks, I found that right away, but honestly, it doesn't really tell me anything useful...

Would you really prefer to shove elderly people into a nursing home just so you could live in their hard-earned property and feast at their expense? And then invite questionable characters or even some avant-garde male stylists with dubious morals into the mix?😁
That’s exactly why nobody is sending you any links!😂
Just take out a reasonable mortgage, buy your own place, and in 35 years, it'll finally be yours.👍

boldbadger40 said:So, what you're saying is I should just shove elderly people into a nursing home so I can move into their hard-earned house and live it up? And then maybe invite some questionable characters over, or perhaps some avant-garde stylists with really... unconventional tastes?😁
That’s probably why nobody ever sends you any links!😂
Honestly, just grab a mortgage, buy a place, and in thirty-five years, it'll finally be yours.👍

Are you feeling a little frustrated lately?

Maybe you're having some issues with your identity?

Or perhaps things are just getting a bit lonely in your personal life?

Come on, just introduce yourself and tell us what's actually bothering you. 🤣

boldbadger40 said:So what, you'd just shove seniors into a nursing home so you could move in and feast on the property they spent their whole lives working for? And then invite over some questionable characters or maybe an avant-garde stylist with "experimental" tastes?😁
That’s exactly why nobody ever sends you any links!😂
Just take out a mortgage, buy your own place, and in 35 years, it'll finally be yours!!!👍

Oh, please... spare me the moral high ground...😢
I am nothing like that. In fact, I actually look after my aunt because her own granddaughter doesn't bother to show up for her...🙄
I would have appreciated some actual advice instead of this unprovoked personal attack.🤷

mistyranger11 said:Look, I already mentioned how terrified I was—I didn't even see a dentist for five years because everyone I went to was working through the Social Security Administration and they did a terrible job. I’ve already said that Dr. Azinovic is fantastic; I recommend him to everyone, and his prices are actually better than most. He’s definitely not the only good one out there, I just happen to know him among the few who actually know what they're doing.
But let’s be real—if you haven't taken care of your teeth and you've dealt with bad dentists, you have to realize you can't just get everything done for free. I didn't get mine covered for free either, but honestly, I don't regret a single cent I spent. I would have ended up paying way more at some other place, and who knows if I would have even been happy with the results?
P.S. Dr. Azinovic actually saved a tooth for me that my old dentist definitely wouldn't have—he would've told me to just pull it, exactly like he told my brother. He pulled two of my brother's teeth, which costs about $2,400 total for two implants ($1,000 per implant plus $200 for the crown)—so do the math: is it better to have it done for "free" by someone incompetent, or pay a little less to a guy who actually knows his job? A dentist's primary goal should be saving teeth, not pulling them just to pitch an implant like he did to my brother.👎
Now, there's a chance those two teeth couldn't have been saved, but this same idiot drilled right into my other brother's tooth root, which ended up getting infected and oozing pus. He couldn't wrap his head around what the guy had done. Luckily, that brother landed a job abroad, where a different dentist fixed the tooth and explained exactly what happened—and then he actually asked, "What kind of dentists do you guys have back in America?"🤣

And finally, my conclusion: take care of your teeth, people. You're better off spending your money on blondes—specifically the ones who cook well and don't talk too much. 🙂

That was beautifully put... seriously, bravo. I couldn't have said it better myself.
If I may chime in... I also spent years seeing the same dentist in my neighborhood just because she was close by. I didn't bother looking for anyone new. She does okay work, sure, everything is fine... except she's always moody, rude, and honestly, she hasn't seen me in years because I hate dentists. When I finally show up because something hurts or whatever, she starts lecturing me about where I've been all this time... like, why do you care? I'm here to get my teeth fixed, book my next appointment, and go. It should be common knowledge that people don't like dentists... and they avoid them.

Anyway, I finally decided to fix everything that needs fixing... and based on recommendations, I switched to a dentist over in the downtown area... Dr. Verica Bobić Gojmerac! I am truly satisfied; I think she really does great work and genuinely wants to care for her patients. Every time there was significant drilling or a procedure... I actually got a local anesthetic (which I never once got from my old lady—I just endured pain after pain). I know, some of you will say "that's not right" or "what do you know"... but I think it's better this way than just suffering through it. Since I hadn't been to a dentist in years, things had piled up, especially on my molars... so during my last few visits, she gave me the shot and knocked out a couple of teeth immediately. She cleaned and handled some, and prepared others to send me to a specialist because they were a bit more critical. That's basically the only weird part... she's actually great, everything is awesome... but why is she sending me to a specialist? Whatever... I'll get that sorted there, and then go back to her to finish up the rest... then I'll finally be at peace. I can't wait for that day to come...

Yeah, everything is being handled through the Social Security Administration—I'm talking about that white filling around $33...

Has anyone here actually dealt with this clinic before?

I recently went in for a kidney ultrasound with Dr. Dimanovski, and honestly, I can’t say enough good things about him... he’s just such a genuine, decent person who really went out of his way to help me out, even managing to pull some strings at the hospital where he works so I could get seen ahead of schedule 🙂. As for their OB-GYN services, though, I wouldn't really know because I always go to a different doctor for that kind of thing 🙂. Plus, I wasn't actually at their main clinic in Chicago.

Christian Thompson11 said:..but why is she sending me to the dental school? Whatever.. I'll just get it sorted there, then head back to her to handle whatever else needs fixing... then I can finally relax. Honestly, I can't wait for that day to come...

Oh, and by the way, everything goes through the Social Security Administration—I think it was a white filling around $33...

She sent you to the university because she doesn't want to deal with the hassle of dental work herself...

The thing is, endodontics is technically covered for free by the Social Security Administration, but let’s be real: if a doctor actually does the job right, they have to struggle through it...

That's exactly why most dentists dump their insurance patients off at the dental school; there's zero profit in it for them...

Kudos to the few exceptions, though...🙏

Here is my experience... Out of pure fear, I actually avoided the dentist for eight full years.
After some serious coaxing, I finally agreed to see Dr. Zoran Ivasovic—mostly because my dental health had reached a critical point. To be honest, if he hadn't been so skilled, I wouldn't have gone at all.
The man clearly loves what he does and possesses incredible patience. As for me? Any trace of anxiety or dread I once carried has been completely wiped out.
To get straight to the point, I visit Fiziodent on Main Street. Dr. Ivasovic is a private practitioner, but I don't regret a single cent spent there. In fact, it turns out his rates are actually more reasonable than other private clinics I've looked into.
I hope this helps someone.
Best regards to everyone.

P.S. I almost forgot to mention: I haven't felt even a hint of pain during any procedure. I imagine that is a crucial detail for most people. Over the last three or four years, I’ve been in his chair at least 30 times for various issues, including extensive work. I’ve been wearing braces for about 18 months now, and I am currently in the process of getting two implants.

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some insight on getting a full-body mole checkup. To be honest, I’ve never actually gone through this kind of screening before, so I’d love to hear about your experiences with dermatologists in the area. I’m looking for someone reliable and thorough—I don't mind paying for a private specialist if they're worth it. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling a bit anxious about this, especially given how much skin cancer has been in the news lately.🙂

Amanda Rogers22 said:Well, I'm just trying to figure out if this might involve orthodontics too, since I'm still on the hunt for my own orthodontist....😢
And honestly, whenever you ask anyone for a recommendation, everyone just goes completely silent on you😲 🙄, so I thought maybe someone here had done a specialization in it...☕

I'm actually looking for an orthodontist myself! I've been dodging the whole topic for years now, but I've finally decided it's time to just get it sorted out... so please, if you have any contacts, send them my way via DM, or even just a name would be wonderful.🙏