TL;DR - I came to Portsmouth Dental Care after seeing my regular dentist, getting a second opinion…read morefrom another, and visiting two endodontists - all while dealing with months of intense tooth pain. Had an extraction and an implant and couldn't be more pleased with the reasonable cost and treatment of everyone that I interacted with.
Full Story - I had some dental work done in November. Then in December, my mom passed away. Around the same time, I started experiencing severe pain near what felt like my incisor. I went back to my original dentist, who said it was just enamel wear. But the pain got worse. Since I didn't yet have dental insurance due to starting a new job, I managed it with Advil.. WAY TOO MUCH Advil.
Months passed. I experienced another major family loss. I was still taking so much Advil that I could barely eat from the nausea. Then, one day before my insurance was set to begin, I was laid off. Five months later, still in pain and out of options, I finally made an appointment with another dentist for a second opinion. That dentist said I needed a root canal.
I saw the endodontist they referred me to, who agreed with the diagnosis, but they didn't offer general sedation and that's a no go for me. I found a different endodontist who did offer general sedation, and saw them. I've already left a separate review for that situation, but suffice it to say I left shaken and angry, and couldn't trust that office. After doing some research, I found Portsmouth Dental Care and scheduled a visit with them. They saw me the very next day.
Let me tell you: dealing with untreated tooth pain while unemployed and grieving two losses is a nightmare. Add in generalized anxiety, and I truly felt like I was hanging on by a thread. But from the moment I walked in, Portsmouth Dental Care treated me with compassion, patience, and respect.
It turned out that a root canal would not have solved the problem at all. The tooth had a large vertical crack, which Dr. Hunt clearly explained and showed me. Their recommended approach was extraction and an implant. I was scared about the cost because, again, I was unemployed. But the total price, even including the implant, was only a few thousand more than the root canal alone would have cost at the other practice.
I came back twice after the procedure, both times worried that something might be wrong. They got me in quickly and didn't charge for either visit.
The first time, I noticed the tooth in front of the extraction felt rough. When I looked closer, I saw a visible crack. Dr. Hunt said he'd told me about it--but then realized he'd explained it while I was still coming out of sedation. The crown had cracked during the extraction because it had been made too thin by my previous dentist. It wasn't technically their responsibility, but because it cracked during their procedure, Dr. Hunt said they'd replace it at no cost when I came back for the abutment.
The second time, I was concerned about a small white bump behind the extraction site. I was spiraling, assuming the worst, but they explained calmly that it was just tissue regrowth. Bonus points: they used humor, which is my coping mechanism, and the fact that they met me in that space made me feel genuinely seen.
Not only was the total cost reasonable, but I was treated like a person, not a problem. The biggest takeaway for me? Go to a practice that handles everything in one place. When you only see specialists, they tend to recommend what they do--even if it's not the best or most cost-effective solution.
If you're looking for a team that's kind, honest, thorough, and incredibly skilled, I cannot recommend Portsmouth Dental Care enough.
