Wisdom teeth sticker shock!

[LauraR]

I would postpone the wisdom teeth. Usually it's not that big of a deal.

I think you may be right. I probably do have some wiggle room. Although the bottom wisdom teeth for both boys look like they are coming in at about an 85 degree angle. Just not sure how quickly they move in.

 

[danygirl]

You need to do this before college, you dont want him to have trouble so far from home. A lovely girl from our high school died from Tylenol poisoning when she took too much Tylenol over a two week period while waiting for her parents to work out the insurance logistics of getting dental care in her college town. Tragic.

Your oral surgeons office should prequalify you and give you an estimate on the insurance.

 

[Granny square]

Or just schedule during break like we did. Although kids should be taught about being safe with OTC drugs.

 

[LauraR]

You need to do this before college, you dont want him to have trouble so far from home. A lovely girl from our high school died from Tylenol poisoning when she took too much Tylenol over a two week period while waiting for her parents to work out the insurance logistics of getting dental care in her college town. Tragic.

Your oral surgeons office should prequalify you and give you an estimate on the insurance.

That is my worry, that it will start causing him pain after after he's down there. I will check into my medical coverage or supplemental dental and try and get this taken care of before he leaves. Otherwise I'll be worried about it.

 

[*JoGo*]

The surgeon's office should be able to tell you how much will be covered by medical, dental, and then what you will be responsible for.

If they aren't bothering them, I'd wait. I had two impacted and two normal. I had them out a couple months after I turned 30. Over the years, every once in awhile one would bother me for a month or two, but not enough that I needed them out immediately. I actually wasn't having any problems when I had them taken out, but it was time. I had a cavity caused by a wisdom tooth in one of the molars.

I think parents get them out because that's what the dentist said to do... But if they aren't causing a problem/pain, it can be held off until money is saved to pay for them. I even went through braces without having them removed.

I also would not have them out over a short break or a couple weeks before a vacation. I got two dry sockets and was in awful pain for two weeks. Do it during the summer, just to be safe.

 

[disney1990]

Both my sons (16 and 18) need all 4 wisdom teeth removed. I took them to an oral surgeon today and the one who has 4 impacted teeth will cost $2,065 and the one with two erupted and two impacted will cost $1,465. ACKKK! If I'd known they were both going to need this, this year, I'd have put more in our FSA account (I only put in $1,800). My husband is a federal employee and our dental coverage is not very good. I called the insurance company and they said wisdom teeth extraction is not covered, some oral surgeons (including the one we saw) just offer a discount. I have one other oral surgeon my dentist gave me a referral to, who I plan to call and see what fees he charges, but I have a feeling it's not going to be much less. Any advice from people who've been through this kind of thing?
We are leaving for WDW on Wed. for a 6 day trip. I was really excited until today, now I feel sick. I probably wouldn't have planned the trip if I'd known we were going to have this expense .

Most dental insurance coverage is not very good for removal of wisdom teeth. Everybody I know that has had them out has had a "large" out of pocket expense. My daughter had hers out last year at age 27 - she, too, thought that she could wait, but it caught up with her. And, it was expensive.

 

[SpecialK]

When I had my wisdom teeth out, my medical picked up the cost for one of them because it was impacted and considered surgical. The others were not impacted and considered dental extractions.

My son is scheduled to have his out at the end of May and we have the same coverage. The two impacted will be covered by medical, the two that are not are not covered.

 

[whatname]

The address for The Dental Network is www.thedentalnet.org

I looked at the benefit schedule. It is around $200 copay for removal of an impacted tooth. We have had this insurance for a few years. Our dentist recommended it when what we had got too expensive and didn't cover much. It is only for DC, MD, and VA residents. We have had not problems with it. I had 5 fillings replaced all at once for one copay. Same when DDs got sealants. $20 copay for 4 sealants.

 

[mommyrosa2]

OP...like others have suggested, contact United to see what, if anything, the medical will cover.if it doesn't cover anything and your oldest isn't having any pain, I'd postpone his but get it scheduled already for after the first of the year, like the beginning of January when he's off for Winter break, this way you could use the FSA funds from next year. I would definitely take care of the son that's having problems this year. Another suggestion would be to try and shop around, some oral surgeons charge a lot more than others. I went through this with my oldest DD last year. Her orthodontist told us that she would need to get all wisdom teeth out before she started college to avoid her teeth from shifting. The first oral surgeon I took her to gave me a quote that I felt was really high. I started asking around & through word of mouth found another one who was more reasonable and offered a discount if we paid in full upfront (like 10%). Turned out all hers were impacted, ended up using the 2nd oral surgeon, used my FSA to pay upfront. While my healthcare didn't cover any of it, I have really good dental so my OOP expense was only like $350. I scheduled her extraction during her winter break. Thank GOD my youngest DD doesn't have any wisdom teeth at all so I'll never have to worry about her. Good luck!

 

[LauraR]

The address for The Dental Network is www.thedentalnet.org

I looked at the benefit schedule. It is around $200 copay for removal of an impacted tooth. We have had this insurance for a few years. Our dentist recommended it when what we had got too expensive and didn't cover much. It is only for DC, MD, and VA residents. We have had not problems with it. I had 5 fillings replaced all at once for one copay. Same when DDs got sealants. $20 copay for 4 sealants.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate the info!

 

[stitchlovestink]

And as of 2013 you are only allowed $2,500 in FSA now. UGH!!! That cut that back A LOT!! (Thank you O'bama) We used to put $3,300 aside and we could've put more but we felt like that was enough for us. Now our insurance won't pay a dime until we spend $2,000!! So that only gives us 500 for the remaining 20% copays....doesn't go very far...sigh. and insurance plans/coverages are only going to get worse in 2014 & 2015 when the next set of laws go into effect. Get ready for even higher healthcare costs everybody...

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I also still have all four of mine and have room for them, never had any issues with them even though most of my family had all if not some of them removed. Who says it's a bad thing having a big mouth!!

But I saw you say you weren't sure how fast they came in. I'd imagine for everyone is different but I'll tell you my bottom ones have been coming in for like 2 or 3 years at least. Every so often the little flap of gum over them gets a little sore and then a short while later the pain goes away and there seems to be more tooth and less gum. But that being said, mine are straight (or at least straight enough not to be an issue) so I don't know if when there's issues if they come in faster or slower or if it really is just different from person to person.

Clear as mud right?

 

[AnnaS]

Most dental insurance coverage is not very good for removal of wisdom teeth. Everybody I know that has had them out has had a "large" out of pocket expense. My daughter had hers out last year at age 27 - she, too, thought that she could wait, but it caught up with her. And, it was expensive.

This - from what I hear many do not have great dental coverage in general.

My dd recently had three removed. My copayment was $1,000. She did not want tot go through IV anesthesia - wanted no needles - so she had local and did great (surgeon said many recommend this too because it's more $$). She also told him she cannot swallow pills (viacadin (sp?) for pain) - he said no problem - liquid is just as good.

Good luck!!

 

[justustoo]

I " feel your pain"- DS 20 had to have his removed last month - cost us $1440 out of,pocket- health insurance wouldn't even credit to our deductible. Would like to get DS 17 wisdom teeth out before he has to report to USAFA next month, but since theynarenot bothering him, I think we will wait until he is home for Christmas leave.

 

[Danibelle]

Sounds like what you are describing is your dental coverage.Yes? What others are trying to point out is to check out your medical insurance. Your medical insurance should cover any surgeries and that is what the impacted ones would be. That is why you are going to an oral surgeon and not the dentist.

I have Federal Employees insurance (Blue Cross). It really does not cover wisdom tooth removal. I had 1 regular extraction and 2 impacted. I had to cover most of the cost. I would be asking the oral surgeon if there is any type of payment plan since you have 2 children who need this surgery. I was told as a teen that I would need extraction and I never had this done for decades. I finally had my surgery at age 47 and it was not fun. It only gets worse as you get older. I was told the best time to have wisdom teeth removed is in your teens or 20's.

 

[C_leen]

I got mine out at a dental school clinic while I was in college. We all took turns taking each other up there and it was WAY cheaper.

 

[angierae]

My dental insurance (Humana) covered my wisdom tooth removal - all I paid for was the twilight sleep sedation.

 

[HM]

My DD just had her four out on January 2. The cost was around $2800. They sent claim to health insurance first (required by dental) but they covered nothing. I had to pay approx $1200 down. The surgeon's office said our insurance would cover $1500. Turns out our dental insurance was a plan they worked with so wrote off some of the costs, covered the $1500, and we ended up with a refund of over $700 of the ~$1200 we paid. So total out of pocket was around $580.

Find out if they take your dental insurance. It may be that they write down some of the cost and it won't be as much out of pocket for you as you think!

 

[Gigi22]

Agreed with C_leen. My DH had extensive dental work at the local university's Dentistry School, for free or close to it. Not wisdom teeth, but a number of extractions due to a genetic defect that resulted in his not getting most of his 'permanent' teeth. You may want to contact your local university to see if they would operate on wisdom teeth.

 

[Allison]

Wow. One of my kids is having all 4 of theirs pulled and it will cost us about $250 after insurance.