No dental insurance - what do you do?

[lynn46356]

We do not have dental insurance but have bought a family plan through dentalplans.com.

It doesn't cost us a fortune and it brings the amount down that we are spending at the dentist. My husband had 5 teeth pulled, three crowns, and who knows what else this year. That doesn't count our boys 6 month check ups either. I'm sure its not the best but it does bring down the amount you owe at the visit (I hope). I look at it as its better than nothing! Thanks to the dentist visits this year we are itemizing on our taxes.

 

[pintamino]

I take good care of my teeth (always have), and still get cavities, several of which have turned in to root canals, because my enamel is thin and soft, and I have large nerves. I was told this by a very honest family friend who is a dentist, which explains a lot over the years.

However, we did have a dentist in the past that mysteriously found 5 cavities on my first visit in his brand new office... I went through several dentists before I ended up where I am now. I followed my current dentist out of his old practice when he went out on his own, and will continue seeing him even with the 4 hour drive after I move next week. He also believes in preventative measures, which is huge. A second opinion never hurts, because unfortunately it seems like there are a lot of questionable ethics in the dental (and medical) fields.

 

[crisi]

On of my daughter's friends hasn't had dental insurance for a few years. Her Dad does two things with the kids. One, when he can get an appointment, he takes them to the dental school, but they often have to live with cavities for months before they can get an appointment Or he takes them to a charitable organization called Give Kids a Smile. However, you need to be pretty poor to qualify. Neither place gives the kids any anethesia unless the cavities are fairly extreme and in both cases it Novocaine only.

 

[angierae]

On of my daughter's friends hasn't had dental insurance for a few years. Her Dad does two things with the kids. One, when he can get an appointment, he takes them to the dental school, but they often have to live with cavities for months before they can get an appointment Or he takes them to a charitable organization called Give Kids a Smile. However, you need to be pretty poor to qualify. Neither place gives the kids any anethesia unless the cavities are fairly extreme and in both cases it Novocaine only.

My dentist participates in Give Kids A Smile. It's a great charity.

I've never had anything more than novocaine for a cavity filling, and neither has my DD. I mean, I've heard of laughing gas but I've never had it. What other sort of numbing would you give a kid? I had twilight sleep for my wisdom tooth surgery, but they were impacted and had to be dug out of my gums.

 

[ceecee]

Some pedidontists give it in a drink form that relaxes the child and they can get all of it done at one visit. Some will just use nitrous. Most kids do fine without either, unless they have a ton of work or are hyper sensitive.

 

[dclfun]

If there's a public health clinic in your area sometimes they have an associated dental clinic. I took my kids there to get shots for school as pretty much everyone went there and it was not income based. Same with the dental clinic. It was clean and the dentists were compassionate. Also, if they qualify for the CHIP insurance in your state it includes dental as well- at least it did in our state. Good luck OP, and let us know how it turns out with the second opinion.

 

[MEM]

OP, I see that you live in San Antonio - have you looked into the dental school at UTHSCSA? I doubt if they have an income limit, like others have suggested. Sealants, in my experience, are very effective if applied properly.
Fluoride trays are also very effective.

Also, be aware that sugar-free sodas have phosphoric acid that will erode the enamel. Better to stick with water. I am appalled that people would recommend not filling the cavities in baby teeth because "they will fall out anyway". The untreated caries in the baby tooth can affect the development of the permanent tooth. Its also true that some children have little or no enamel on some of their teeth - my son is one of them. My DD16 has no cavities and DS17 has just one, on the tooth that has no enamel.

I have worked in dental education for nearly 30 years and have learned a few things along the way.

 

[tefrench]

We do not have dental insurance, but use CareCredit. We go to a pediatric dentist which I think is totally worth it (their previous dentist is another story - I was crying at my ds's last visit there!) but my dd's first visit was $900! I also choose to go to a dentist that has more than just plain novocaine since I have issues with pain at the dentist, and he also accepts CareCredit. Very expensive, but the payments really help.