why are dentists so expensive? and why is dental insurance so crappy?
491452
I don`t know but, I certainly agree with you.. It is a crying shame when the Government will pay for Viagra so OLD men can get it on, But the average middle class person doesn`t get any kind of dental care.. \n\nI mean it is ridiculous to pay $150.00 to have ONE tooth pulled. Which takes the dentist all of five minutes to pull. For crying out loud. That is very good money for five minutes work.. \n\nAnd on top of that. I knew someone who died at 42 due to having bad teeth. So it is NOT like it is ONLY a cosmetic thing. It is a serious health issue.. \n\nIt is sad in OUR Country that anyone has to do without health care..
910463
There's a company out there that helps people who do not have and need affordable dental benefits. It includes all basic things and then surgery, crowns, even orthodontics. There's no high premiums, deductibles, co-pays, waiting periods, or anything like that at all. They can save you up to 80% on your out of pocket expenses for a very small fee every month. It could end up saving you a lot of $$ over traditional insurance. Try this website and you can check out the specifics and providers in your area. http://www.everyonebenefits.com/40424269... They are wonderful. I have benefits through them as well. Hope you find what you need. Please email me if you have any questions, and I'd be happy to help you if I can. Best of luck.
846585
You will not generally find good dental insurance for individuals.  The thing is, insurance companies are in BUSINESS and they want to make a PROFIT.  They know exactly how much any given group is going to spend for their dental needs, so they construct a fee schedule for that group and decide how much premium that they will need to charge to pay out those fees for that group and still make money.  Dental insurance can be a big loser for the insurance companies, because EVERYONE has dental problems.  Not everyone has a heart attack.\n\nBesides, any individual who is looking for dental insurance is most likely planning on USING it to the maximum.  There is no way for the insurance companies to recoup their expenses from this type of policy.
11848
Yes, they are expensive.  Before I could get my implants I had to have some bone grafting done.  I had one implant done 2 years ago and it cost about $3500.  That doesn't include the bone.  Some people don't need the bone replaced.  In November I had 6 more screws (implants) put in.  The cost was $7700.  But that price does not include the teeth that are attached to the implant.  A dentist will make those whereas the implants are done by a dental surgeon.  I think the teeth are about $600 each.  It is quite expensive but they will last a lifetime.  They feel just like your regular teeth.  Being young (less than 50 years old) they are the perfect choice for me.  If I had to have false teeth (dentures) I think my self image and esteem would be nil.  Plus how would I feel about a guy I was dating finding out that my teeth come out.  \n\nThere is another choice you can make.  My mother and my sister got this other kind of implants.  I think they are called mini implants.  What happends there is mini screws are put in your mouth and they stick out of your gums.  Then a special denture is made that snaps onto the screws in your mouth.  They are sturdy and secure.  You can wear them all the time, just take them out and clean them once a day.  The life of this type is about 10 years.  I think the total cost was somewhere around $12,000 for the uppers and lowers.  \n\nIf you're really interested check around for a good oral surgeon and dentist, preferably ones that work together (refers to each other).  \n\nHope this is helpful and makes sense!!
196039
care dental and capital one both have plans, ask dentists what plans they have, they'll know of lenders.  also, call around, I recently had a lot of work done and found out that prices vary a lot.
458706
You may want to try a local university or college in your area.  Many times they have dental students who do a lot of work and it is generaly a good thing because the instructors are on hand as well.  Sometimes you can get quality care.\nGood Luck Health Care Does Break Your Bank
770409
Contact your local or state dental association and and see if there are any dentists who provide free or reduced cost care for low-income, disabled or senior patients.\n\nCall your local health department and ask about health centers that provide dental care for free or on a sliding scale.\n\nYour local United Way may also be aware of such a clinic.  In some areas, you can reach them now by dialing 2-1-1 for "non-emergency information."\n\nGo to a dental school, if there is one near you, for reduced costs.\n\nCheck http://www.toothwoman.net to see if low-cost or free dental services are available near you.\n\nCheck http://bphc.hrsa.gov and choose "Find a Health Center" to see if there is a low-cost clinic near you.\n\nCheck http://www.nfdh.org/DDS.html to see if your state has a "Donated Dental Services" program.  D.D.S. is designed to locate dentists who will give free care to patients who are financially compromised due to medical problems.  This is a process that will take a couple of months to get your information and then arrange for someone to see you.  Not all states have D.D.S. programs.
1018475
rehabilitation commission,they will help if its affecting the way you work!if you have any free clinics in your area they sometimes have a dental clinic that bases evevry thing on your income,thats how i am getting my teeth pulled,they are only charging me $40 a tooth to pull all of mine and they xrayed my whole mouth for $35.look at for dental colleges in your area they do the same thing!also you can go to affordabledentures.com,they are really cheap!they have a website at that site that tells you wether or not they have one in your state.i know they have several in texas,louisanna etc.they pull teeth and thier dentures are crazy cheap!i am going their after my dentist at the clinic gets through pulling my teeth,and its only gonna cost me $345 for both top and bottom plates together!hope this helps i know how hard it is !
654360
I need a good dentist too. No insurance also.
1114598
X-rays and the exam itself can be pretty expensive, and they are billed seperately from the cleaning, so that may be the reason for the cost.  The amount of cleaning neccesary would depend on how "dirty" your teeth are.  There are some people whose teeth I can clean in less than five minutes, and other people who take multiple appointments.  If you take relatively good care of your teeth and are genetically lucky in that your mouth doesn't create much tartar, they may have not needed to scale ("scrape") at all.  Polishing isn't even technically neccesary.  They definitely should have flossed your teeth.  If you feel that you weren't given adequate treatment, you may want to go to another office.  It sounds like you seem a little suspicious of this one anyway.
610081
dude, no one has ever, ever, ever trusted a dentist!!!! they always screw people over just so they can gett more money!!!! like inyour bro's case!!!!
1098776
I've worked in a dental office as an office manager and as a dental assistant, and I can tell you that your xrays ARE your property if you've paid for them. However, if they only took 1 set of xrays, then it is the doctor's property (because she/he is taking them to see what is wrong with your teeth and needs them for procedures, it's hers/his). \n\nNow I agree some dentists are shady and 3 grand is a lot of money, but if you need $3000 dollars of work, my guess is you need some root canals or crowns. 6 months is a long time to build decay, especially if you didn't want that filling the last time you were at the dentist. But if $3000 is for fillings or something simple like that....then yes that's ridiculous.\n\nDentists are allowed to keep your xrays and some even charge a fee for you to TAKE THEM to another dentist because 1.) You're not getting xrays done at THAT dentist's office....so 2.) They're allowed to charge a fee for you to take them because you're taking it away from THEIR office permanently to see someone else. \n\nIn our office, if you wanted to take your xrays, you had to sign for them with a signed agreement to bring them back. So it just depends on the dentist really.\n\nIn my years of experience, almost all dentists charge you to take your xrays away from their office. So find out which one is cheaper.....getting a new set of films at the new dentist's office, or paying $25 to take your old ones and never see that dentist again.\n\np.s IF you xrays are more than a year old...DO NOT get them. Dentists don't use xrays if they're more than a year old and are obligated to take new ones, mainly because of the amount of time it's been since the last ones were taken.\n\nGOOD LUCK =)
972378
Yes, if I needed it.  Dental bills can be very expensive, and not everyone has dental insurance.
1089387
Look on the internet. there is good dental insurance out there...Good luck.
284503
Toothbrushes are not that costly... go buy a new one.
625727
Some Dental plans are really good. Delta Dental, Met Life, Guardian. When we first started out in business we signed up with quite a few. Over the years we have not had to sign up with any new ones. The low quality plans have dissappeared. We are still members of others that we just hold on to because we like particular patients. Other wise we don't accept new pateiens from the lower paying plans. In general you get what you pay for. PPO plans seem to work because Dentist are compensated for each service at some predentermined rate. Dentist can give you your options expensive and cheap, pretty or less pretty, and he gets paid for the exam. Everybody is happy. If you decide to go with the less expensive treatment that's your decision. Less expensive options require less time and material and the dentist gets paid. More expensive options require more hand skills and integrity and the dentist charges accordingly.\n\nStay away from HMOs and discount cards. If you buy one of these discount cards the dentist staff has to do all this work to figure out your rate, I refuse to see people who have discount cards because I just can't figure out what part of the tooth I should discount. ha.\n\nHMOs; Don't get an HMO if possible. The way HMOs work is the dentist gets a FAT check every month for say 300 patients on a list. You have to see these patients for basic services for free. (sounds good eh?) But most of the time the dentist gets to thinking, why should I bust my butt and HMO patients all day when I can put them off for a few weeks and see the Cash and PPO patients. So right off the bat you become a second class patient. Then lets say your plan covers basic fillings for free, but not crowns and white fillings. Suddenly, you are at a car dealership. OH sorry Mr. Shmo you need a crown and that tooth. By the way you need a deep cleaning and those wisdome teeth should come out. Get the picture? HMO's suck because you can't figure out if you really need a service or are getting served.\n\nI wish you luck. Remember cash works well too. you'll get a bigger discount than those discount cards.\nOtherwise PPO's are the way to go.\n\np.s.  blue cross pays as much as your employer is willing to pay.  so, in general they are very low paying to the dentist.
1089056
Most dental schools have clinics that are cheaper than established dentists.\n\nYou can also look into state funded health care if your income is really small.\n\nGood luck