Having a tooth out

This afternoon I have an appointment to have a molar removed. I had root-canal treatment a year ago. 3 expensive treatments involving significant discomfort and pain. Everything was fine for a few months and then it started hurting again. I went back to the endodontist, who confirmed that it had not worked. It needs to come out. I am now adept at eating out of one side of my mouth, but as I am traveling overseas in a few months I need to get it out sooner rather than later. What a performance. I rang my dentist who declined to take it out. I need to see an oral surgeon. He needs another x-ray, which I had done yesterday. An extraordinary machine, made in Finland, that takes a 180 degree shot of your teeth. It is called an orthopantomograph. I felt like I was on the set of a high-tech science fiction movie. It made strange whirring noises as it did its work. This afternoon I go to meet the oral surgeon who will look at the offending tooth, presumably make a decision, and then I have to organize the final appointment to have it taken out. All this of course at further significant expense. I can't believe that all this is necessary. They already have an x-ray, why couldn't they just take it out like they did in the past? I asked the dental receptionist who is very sympathetic, and who assures me that it is all for legal reasons, and that this is how it is now done. No wonder these people are so busy and have such long waiting lists.