I've had a tooth that's hurt for well over a year now. ....I need a new dentist.

I think you may be right. You'd think that they'd investigate more, call in a periodontist or do *something*.

I have had a few bad dentists, but more good ones. What a sucky job, looking in the nasty mouths of strangers. The good ones deserve a decent income, IMO. I have a fantastic, practical, fairly conservative dentist right now. I worship him.