Dental Costs

[netters272]

How in the world do folks go to the dentist... I mean... One root canal plus a crown is over $2000... FOR ONE TOOTH...

Ive heard people say, well you have to take care of your teeth and save them but IF YOU dont have 2,000 you dont have it... it's not like I can just VIOLA, come up with 2,000

IT has overwhelmed the family (and it must be HUGELY overwhelming for a bigger family) to think how we would have to put thousands of dollars on a credit card (that is if you have one) and maybe have that debt for years and years, while racking up more as the dental needs continue.

HOW... I ask

j

[LosinitwithGrace]

I work for a dental office. and usually 1 crown and root canal can max out a persons dental insurance for the year also. Which is horrible if you have any other cavitys or plan on having a cleanings. You didnt mention if you had ins or not.. but even the insurance companies have raised their preiums and lowered what they will pay out..and of course GAS
The labs that process the crowns have gone up. Supplies have gone up.
We dont actaully do the Root Canals in our office, we referre out to an expert.. But on the Crown.. Usually there is a post or build up. its about 1.5 hours of the doctors time. by the time they prep the tooth, build it up, and make a temp for it..
Its a lot of work that goes into it. then you come back for the permanent crown to be put on.
IM sure there are cheaper places. I found one that would do it all for 700 but we also had 11 of their patients in a year leave them for us. So yes I guess the answer would be.. If everything else started adjusting prices.. so would dental care.. Its like a chain effect. Lets start with GAS.. lol. Good luck!! i hope you love your new tooth.

[netters272]

I wasnt poo pooing the dentist I understand cost and time and so on.

I was wondering how people pay for such a service if they dont have them money. No insurance and not at a "poverty" level to get assistance is there was any to be gotten.

Im just talking a family that gets the news they need to come up with that amount of money... and no matter what people say about "NEEDING" it.. if you dont have it, you dont have it... grin..

so do people just leave it and it becomes infected and they might die - im not being a smart alec.. just overwhelmed at another money problem that doesnt seem to have an answer

j

[LiterateGriffin]

Folks who can't afford dental insurance generally opt to get the tooth pulled, in my experience.

[HAB]

Hi netters.

I'm very low income but have some limited dental insurance that covers a tiny amount of the work. I needed two crowns last year and the only way I could pay for it was with a credit card. The work amounted to over $5,000!

Anyway, my dental office has some kind of agreement with Care Credit to where I was able to apply for the card and have no interest charge for the first year. It took a lot of scrimping but I was able to pay off the $3,000 that had to go on the card without incurring any interest. You may want to check into it.

[LosinitwithGrace]

Yes Care credit is good plan. Lots of people have luck with that. You can sign up online or call them.. I have it .. we only give 6 month interest free.. Each office is differnt. And please keep in mind. If all the borrowed money is not paid back within the time allowed.. The % on the card is high. they dont tell the people that. then all of sudden they owe tons more!

Some of the local Universitys have students that do the work also.. at 30% cheaper or higher.

Just keep in mind if the tooth gets pulled.. most of the time you need something to put in there. ( at one point) or all your teeth begin to shift. I have been working at the front desk of a dental office for over 20 years I have seen all kinds of folks. I have worked in the north and south.. just the past two years I have seen so many people opt for the extraction..
because of bills.
I wish you the best of luck!! and i hope it all works out for you.

[Jez]

I paid out of pocket for my teeth cleanings (never needed anything more) the 3 years I didn't have insurance. Now, I have a dental plan added onto my HSA. My dental plan is only $19 more a month.

[Star73]

It's outrageous. They overcharge, I don't care what anyone says. Dental insurance sux too.

[netters272]

My thoughts but didnt want to be rude. I know they overcharge on appliances because im a graphic designer or a large dental supply co. The spacer that cost me 275 cost the dentist 25cents

My root canal cost 941 for an hour half time. Are you kidding me. Again i understand schooling and ins costs but 1000 for an hour...you would have to get it pulled and let the teeth shift...because even with that credit care...you STILL have to come up with 1000 sometime and even in six months..im still noy going to magically come up with it

Please no disrespect...just overwhelmed

J

[shmabby]

Agreed agreed agreed

I'm a bit of a dental "groupie".
My mom lost her teeth in her early 40's due to gum problems.
I spend quite a bit of $ and time visiting dentist(s) sometimes different ones have different approaches and I think sometimes it's good to hear another opinion.

I hate spending the $ but I'm 54 now and I really don't want bigger $ issues and/or losing my teeth in the near future so I just pay.

Yes I have insurance but no, it doesn't cover nearly enough. If I could I'd opt for better dental coverage and less medical.

Honestly I don't get why we have to have a dental v. medical insurance distinction. Health (nondental) affects dental and vice versa.

It does suck but at least it's available. Some people live in places w/o even routine dental care.

I think after things like mortgage, car, utilities, my next biggest expense is dental and I think with time it will only increase (and the benefits will proably go down) both in price and in what I need.

I truly share your sadness/anger in this.

[Karerose]

I find it weird that even companies that offer medical insurance often don't include any kind of dental. Dental health can effect so many other things it seems it would be better to make sure people can afford to take care of their teeth.

Whenever they have some big free dental care day it unbelievable how many people show up and show up super early so they make sure they get in. I know there used to be a dental clinic around here, but I only used them once years ago to get my wisdom teeth pulled when I was on state aid. I'm not sure if they still exist or if you can even go if you have no dental insurance. At the time I had a regular dentist that accepted state aid for cleanings and minor things, but he didn't do teeth pulling.

[PghPALady1974]

I don't know from personal experience but have heard that if you have a dental school you can usually go there for no to low cost for dental needs. I THINK Pitt has that option here in Pittsburgh.

[Katy]

We are going through this with my husband. We have insurance through work (we both work for the same large corporation) but the reality is many dental insurance plans have a low yearly limit. One root canal and one crown maxed out his policy and he had 3 more root canals and crowns to do plus while we are trying to find the 2000 for the next tooth he had an old crown and post break off. We were able to get 2500 in financing but we do have to put part of the cost down to start treatment. I wish he had taken better care of his teeth but there is not much we can do about the past now.