What Is Wrong With Some Dentists These Days?

My uncle was a dentist. When I had to go see him he had a look at the problem, which usually was a hole, he worked at it right away and fixed it. Some times I had to go a second time to get a 2 hole fixed. It was easy and straight forward. Other dentists I saw in later years did the same.

Not so today.

10 days ago I chewed a piece of bread and there was something hard in it. It broke a tooth. I called the dentist's office in town and explained that I had a broken tooth which needed fixing. I had no pain but explained that the tooth needed fixing or what ever could be done right away. I am planning a trip to Houston to pick up my van and the thought of having a broken tooth along the way, is not pleasing me.
Today, I drove to town. It's 54 miles through the U.S. 
The receptionist handed me a set of papers to fill out. I cannot remember that we ever had to do that in Europe. No we didn't. But - OK with my home- (office-) work done I sat down and waited 30 minutes. Finally, a young woman ushered me into the "chair". She said she was the "Hygienist" and would start working at me, also taking an X-Ray. I politely asked to see the doc first to get his opinion on my dilemma. Me thinking I wouldn't be able to travel with a half-done work. Where upon the lady expressed her doubts that the tooth would be fixed in this session and that I wasn't "scheduled" for that work. I told the story that I had especially asked for an appointment to get the tooth fixed. But that had obviously gone by the wayside. Well, she must have briefed the doctor and he came in - a bit grumpy as he appeared. He did have a look at my bad tooth, shook his head and said he would not be able to fix it today. "Badly broken" was his diagnosis. I thanked him for his opinion and rose from the chair. It would remain the first and also the last ever visit to his practice.
What are receptionists doing when they set up appointments with clients? Are they awake?

The experience I had today is not the first time this has happened to me. 2 years ago I had a real emergency and did not get help despite me informing the office beforehand that the tooth in question needed to be removed. I ended up in the ER later that day. All they wanted to do was "teeth cleaning" and take an X-Ray.

It appears that dentists are making good money on having you there twice pressing all kind of extra services on you. Services you haven't asked for, while the real problem has to wait for a sunnier day. I am sick and tired to see dentists acting like that. Their foul practices of milking dollars out of your pocket is nothing but criminal.

Luckily, there are exceptions. There is a nice female dentist right across the border and she has always tended directly to the problem without any unasked extra performances. Unfortunately, she is on vacation these days. But when I returned to the island I dropped by her office and talked nice to the older receptionist. So, I might get a call tomorrow.