Why is dental work so expensive?!

[magicfan]

UGH! I have dental insurance, too, but I am going to go broke.

And, why do dentists all tell you something different? I had a dentist tell me 12 years ago that I needed a root canal. I got a second opinion and he told me I only needed a filling in the tooth. I got the filling and have never had a problem with that tooth since.

I also was told by one dentist that I need a couple caps. With my insurance, it would still cost me $900.00!!! (my insurance pays 50% of caps, and I have a well known insurance). I ended up going to another dentist who told me I only needed my fillings replaced. I had one of them filled so far, and other than tooth sensitivity (to cold and hot) I am fine, so far. It's been a couple months. I don't know who to believe. All I know is that I don't want to have to pay for something that costs an arm and a leg if I don't really need it right now. Are these dentists trying to just get a lot of money out of me, or am I taking poor advise from the "second opinions" I am getting? I sure would like to understand what is going on. I am so frustrated.

As for my kids, I don't compromise....I just pay the money, but it sure is getting very expensive.

 

[tinaluis]

I know how you feel. We don't have any dental insurance and DH had to go to the dentist recently. He went to a new dentist (because of logistics -- our old dentist was downtown and he doesn't work downtown anymore) because he had a filling that fell out and the tooth was giving him some trouble. They worked on the problem tooth (put in a "sedative" filling and told him it might need a root canal), took full mouth xrays and said they would tell him what needed to be done. The next appointment they told him he had early stage periodontal disease, needed gum scaling, to have 6 teeth worked on, whitening, etc. all to the tune of $8,000!!!!! I made an appointment for him at our old dentist (who we trust to do only what needs to be done) for a cleaning and to see what needs to be done. They said he has healthy gums and teeth and does need work on a few (because he grinds his teeth so hard that he's fractured a few of them) but nowhere near what the other dentist said he needed. The scammer dentist's office ended up calling the house to find out why DH hadn't been back and he gave them an earful. He told them he was so upset that they would have put him through the unnecessary pain and suffering of gum scaling only to make $$$. They assured him that wasn't the case and quickly hung up. Perhaps a referral to another dentist by a friend (who is happy with their dentist) will help? Good luck!

 

[Tigger_Magic]

It's expensive because dentists have overhead, too. You know, it's not easy these days paying off a six or seven-figure mortgage, financing a new Olympic-size swimming pool, country club fees, 2 Hummers in the garage and an Escalade for the kids, and then they probably have cable TV to boot. Now that alone will rip into your wallet big time!

But seriously... I know what you mean. In the last couple of years I spent a small fortune on my mouth -- a root canal, 2 gold crowns (supposedly needed because I chew/bite too hard), fillings replaced, and more. I've shopped around and in our area the cost is pretty much the same no matter who you see.

Makes me realize I chose the wrong line of work. But then again would I really want my hands in stranger's mouths all day??

 

[SillyMe]

What really irritates me the most is that they do not give discounts to cash paying patients. They get a small amount from insurance companies compared to what they charge cash paying-patients. We're making up the difference of what they're not getting from the insurance companies.

I have put out almost $8,000 within the past two years for my dd's dental work. The first orthodontist I was going to gave me an original quote for my dd's braces. She had the expander on first. The day they removed the expander, the ortho told me her price was increasing an additional $1,000 from the first quote she gave me. Why, I have no idea. She said it was because my dd's case was complicated (which it was, but why did she increase the price). She knew I didn't have any insurance either. I was furious. I ended up taking my dd to another ortho.

 

[shelbyjosh]

I feel your "pain"!! I need 2 crowns and I am in no rush to get them. I will be paying about $375 each. One of them is a cracked filling that could go any day. My theory is "if it's not broken, don't fix it!". If I can hold out until Thanksgiving (DH gets a BIG bonus) I will get one done then.

 

[dcentity2000]

Mine is freeeeee!



Rich::

 

[AllyandJack]

I don't understand why lots of dental insurance pays 100% of the cheap stuff like cleanings and only a percentage of the big stuff. I can PAY the $75. for the cleaning, but I CAN'T pay $1,000 for more extensive work. It's so backwards.

Thankfully, DH's plan covers everything with no deductibles and low co-payments. We only have to pay $4.00 for it.

My last plan....it was so stupid....all the cheap stuff was covered 100%....the more expensive the procedure, the less they covered. Talk about backwards!!!

 

[Galahad]

What really irritates me the most is that they do not give discounts to cash paying patients.

In most states it is not legal to do this I believe.

 

[magicfan]

Mine is freeeeee!



Rich::

Is it because of the country you live in?
Do you know how good you have it? I could go on a nice Disney vacation for the price of one dental visit! UGH! I always think of what else I could be spending my hard earned money on. If I absolutley need the work done, fine, but I really don't trust dentists to tell me the truth, since they all tell us different things. The only one I really loved retired. I was so bummed.
No wonder so many people go to Mexico to get things done. It should be a crime to charge people so much. The worst part is that the dentists around here will NOT take any kind of payments. They have to have all the money upfront, or no work. What if you don't have the money? You either suffer, or have to go get a loan, second mortgage, sell your first born (kidding)etc....

 

[magicfan]

I don't understand why lots of dental insurance pays 100% of the cheap stuff like cleanings and only a percentage of the big stuff. I can PAY the $75. for the cleaning, but I CAN'T pay $1,000 for more extensive work. It's so backwards.

Thankfully, DH's plan covers everything with no deductibles and low co-payments. We only have to pay $4.00 for it.

My last plan....it was so stupid....all the cheap stuff was covered 100%....the more expensive the procedure, the less they covered. Talk about backwards!!!

Wow, do you mind if I ask what insurance you have? I have never heard of any so cheap. Your so fortunate.

 

[dcentity2000]

Is it because of the country you live in?
Do you know how good you have it? I could go on a nice Disney vacation for the price of one dental visit! UGH! I always think of what else I could be spending my hard earned money on. If I absolutley need the work done, fine, but I really don't trust dentists to tell me the truth, since they all tell us different things. The only one I really loved retired. I was so bummed.
No wonder so many people go to Mexico to get things done. It should be a crime to charge people so much. The worst part is that the dentists around here will NOT take any kind of payments. They have to have all the money upfront, or no work. What if you don't have the money? You either suffer, or have to go get a loan, second mortgage, sell your first born (kidding)etc....

Am a student in the UK so I don't pay taxes and have free health cover no matter what's wrong; in theory I could rack up a bill for millions and not have to worry about a penny. I know I'm lucky



Rich::

 

[Galahad]

Am a student in the UK so I don't pay taxes and have free health cover no matter what's wrong; in theory I could rack up a bill for millions and not have to worry about a penny. I know I'm lucky



Rich::

It may mean that you don't pay for it out of your pocket, but it's hardly "free".

 

[Galahad]

I could go on a nice Disney vacation for the price of one dental visit!

. It should be a crime to charge people so much. .

And how many people (not you) I wonder would take the trip instead of getting health care and STILL complain about the high cost?

It should be a crime? Really? What should the punishment be? What do you think will happen to healthcare if such a thing actually happened?

 

[dcentity2000]

It may mean that you don't pay for it out of your pocket, but it's hardly "free".

True, but it doesn't cost me a penny yet

By and large the taxes aren't too bad either. There's considerable resistance to an old idea to privatise part of the NHS - people just won't have it. We look after our own and, it seems, most others too (inmigration)



Rich::

 

[AllyandJack]

Wow, do you mind if I ask what insurance you have? I have never heard of any so cheap. Your so fortunate.

We have Delta Dental Premier (MA). It's sort of like a PPO where "in network" is covered 100% for everything (other than cosmetic, of course) and "out of network" is covered at a lower rate.

We pay $4.00/week for it and DH's employer pays the rest.

I just checked out the Delta website. Some plans designate between Type I and Type II and III services. Type I is the cheap stuff like cleanings covered at 100%....the other things, like crowns, are Type II or III and are only covered at a percentage. To me, that seems stupid. They also have a plan for people not covered by an employer that reduces some of the costs. It doesn't say how much that is, but it might be worth looking into since not a lot of employers offer dental insurance anymore.

 

[caitycaity]

allyandjack, we have delta dental premier too. it only costs me $13/month for me and dh. at times, it's one of the primary reasons i have not looked for other employment. i have really great benefits.

 

[AllyandJack]

allyandjack, we have delta dental premier too. it only costs me $13/month for me and dh. at times, it's one of the primary reasons i have not looked for other employment. i have really great benefits.

DH just started with this new company and turned down an offer for more money because the benefits were better. It's so rare these days.

I remember being a kid and I more or less took health and dental insurance as a given because my parents always had it and the employers just paid for it. Not anymore....even asking an employee to contribute something isn't an option for some employers.

There was a really interesting article in a NH paper about the leading employers in NH whose employees were on state-funded healthcare. I was shocked to see that the US Postal Service was on that list! You'd think a government job like that would provide benefits!

 

[mickeyboat]

We have NE Delta Dental (NH) and my employer pays the entire premium for me and my family. It covers cleanings and x-rays 100%, mid-range things like fillings 60%, and more extensive things like crowns 50%. So far we haven't had to do anything more extensive than a filling, so it has been a great benefit for us. I have been able to "afford" to have my fillings and DD"s filling done in composite materials, so no one even knows they are there.

My dentist says I grind my teeth and need a mouth guard. Grinding can do some major damage to your teeth, but the insurance won't cover the guard. Go figure - I guess they would rather pay for the repair later. (I think my grinding is daytime grinding and I have made a conscious effort to stop it. DH has never heard me grind)

Denae

 

[AllyandJack]

My dentist says I grind my teeth and need a mouth guard. Grinding can do some major damage to your teeth, but the insurance won't cover the guard. Go figure - I guess they would rather pay for the repair later. (I think my grinding is daytime grinding and I have made a conscious effort to stop it. DH has never heard me grind)

Denae

I grind my teeth, too. In fact, I had one of those guards and broke it....that's how hard I grind my teeth.

You could try a sporting goods store and get a mouthguard there....or even a pharmacy/medical supply place that might sell them.

I never replaced my guard (it happened about 10 years ago)....I haven't suffered any permanent damage - yet.

 

[Galahad]

We have Delta Dental Premier (MA). It's sort of like a PPO where "in network" is covered 100% for everything (other than cosmetic, of course) and "out of network" is covered at a lower rate.

We pay $4.00/week for it and DH's employer pays the rest.

I just checked out the Delta website. Some plans designate between Type I and Type II and III services. Type I is the cheap stuff like cleanings covered at 100%....the other things, like crowns, are Type II or III and are only covered at a percentage. To me, that seems stupid. They also have a plan for people not covered by an employer that reduces some of the costs. It doesn't say how much that is, but it might be worth looking into since not a lot of employers offer dental insurance anymore.

The reasoning is that paying for preventative stuff at a higher percentage presumably reduces the likelihood that you will need the higher cost procedure (something that should be done more in medical plans, IMO). Many of the higher cost procedures are considered to be avoidable and thus the incentive is to make you pay a higher cost for them so you would do those things that you help you avoid them. Also, it is true that dentist vary much more widely in what they charge for things. If you are the one paying for a procedure you are more likely to care what the dentist charges. If you have a plan that pays everything, then you don't care what he/she charges and the real cost of the service actually goes up a lot.