TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Talk to Me About Dental Issues!

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

Sorry Gaga, I'm in the same boat. I ended up with 3 crowns & an implant in the back. You may need a crown if you are feeling pain. Get to a dentist soon to see if he can save the tooth & crown it. If it is cracked below the gum it may have to be pulled. The implant did not hurt at all but it takes several dental visits over the course of 4 months & is expensive.

Honeys_Mom · Mod & Permanent Board Sweetheart

Have you priced implants? OMG cry

But I recommend parting with at least the most painful one(s) before it becomes more of an issue.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

I figure the implants are expensive but would be a hell of a lot less hassle then going through root canals and crowns. Or, I am going to pull those suckers and get a partial. But, if I do I will feel Hella Old!! Nooooo!!!

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Honeys_Mom wrote:
Have you priced implants? OMG
But I recommend parting with at least the most painful one(s) before it becomes more of an issue.

Well, I would if my $#@& insurance company would ever get back to me!

flan

Ohfour · Hooker

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
I figure the implants are expensive but would be a hell of a lot less hassle then going through root canals and crowns. Or, I am going to pull those suckers and get a partial. But, if I do I will feel Hella Old!! Nooooo!!!

Does your dental insurance not cover implants? Ours does and G got one for less than $100 out of pocket...

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

That's a great question. I dont' know.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Just pull them and purée everything you eat.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
Just pull them and purée everything you eat.

nom nom

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

Ohfour wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
I figure the implants are expensive but would be a hell of a lot less hassle then going through root canals and crowns. Or, I am going to pull those suckers and get a partial. But, if I do I will feel Hella Old!! Nooooo!!!
Does your dental insurance not cover implants? Ours does and G got one for less than $100 out of pocket...

Wholly crap!! My insurance covered the crown part but not the actual implant part. I think even with insurance paying part I paid about $3,500.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

Oh & if it is a bottom tooth & they do pull it, get the implant as soon as you can. I didn't & the upper tooth with nothing to rest on starts to decend & screws up your bite.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Just pull them and purée everything you eat.
nom nom

Yup. All you need is a straw.

ed11563 · Guru

MAKE SURE your dentist is a "participating, preferred provider" in your insurance plan, and

get a second opinion quickly, before you do anything.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Honestly, I have lost several teeth recently. Medicine I was taking really messed up my mouth. Had to have them removed.

-- Edited by lilyofcourse on Wednesday 11th of March 2015 04:56:51 PM

Honeys_Mom · Mod & Permanent Board Sweetheart

My dental ins no longer covers implants - I'm looking at $5,000 per complete molar.

I'm sorry, Lily - that's a drag. cry

ed11563 · Guru

Honeys_Mom wrote:
My dental ins no longer covers implants - I'm looking at $5,000 per complete molar.

I'm sorry, Lily - that's a drag.

OMG !!!

We have dentists here who specialize in implants, who charge a LOT less. If you could save $2,500 per tooth, it might be worth traveling.

I KNOW you HAVE TO get a second opinion! And find your nearest dental college.

Ohfour · Hooker

ed11563 wrote:
Honeys_Mom wrote:
My dental ins no longer covers implants - I'm looking at $5,000 per complete molar.

I'm sorry, Lily - that's a drag.
OMG !!!
We have dentists here who specialize in implants, who charge a LOT less. If you could save $2,500 per tooth, it might be worth traveling.
I KNOW you HAVE TO get a second opinion! And find your nearest dental college.

Yeah, that's WAY too high. I think they are a couple thousand here out of pocket...

Honeys_Mom · Mod & Permanent Board Sweetheart

California prices, I guess. Hmmmm - the $ I save on the implant, I could buy airline tickets, have several Geek meets and still be money ahead!!

biggrin

Ohfour · Hooker

From: www.dentalimplantcenter.com/faqs.php

When one considers all of the above factors, cost seems a little less important. Beware those practices that are on either extreme. There is little justification for those practices charging in excess of $2000 for the implant, or $2000 for the crown. Unless bone grafting is necessary, there is no justifying a single implant restoration where cost approaches $5000. Conversely, those practices where the implant is $1000 and the crown is $1000 should also raise concern. At these prices, one can only consider this an attempt to be a high volume office. This is one procedure that requires education, patience and caution. It cannot be done in a rush, on a high volume basis.

Honeys_Mom · Mod & Permanent Board Sweetheart

Ohfour wrote:
From: www.dentalimplantcenter.com/faqs.php

When one considers all of the above factors, cost seems a little less important. Beware those practices that are on either extreme. There is little justification for those practices charging in excess of $2000 for the implant, or $2000 for the crown. Unless bone grafting is necessary, there is no justifying a single implant restoration where cost approaches $5000. Conversely, those practices where the implant is $1000 and the crown is $1000 should also raise concern. At these prices, one can only consider this an attempt to be a high volume office. This is one procedure that requires education, patience and caution. It cannot be done in a rush, on a high volume basis.

I asked my dentist recently (been with him many years) and he insisted that the three portions together (the implant itself, the whatcha-callit on top of that to hold the crown, and the crown itself) would be about $5000 total. I had asked him specifically to recommend me to someone ELSE because the first place he sent me to a few years ago was so high. They're well-recommended, but high (and they have all the latest expensive equipment as well). But I don't want to go to a cheap place, either - I'd rather keep the gap! It is a backish molar, 2nd from back. I cannot get a bridge because one of the teeth is a baby tooth (yes, still with good roots!) and my dentist says it wouldn't be tough enough to withstand the pressure of holding a bridge.

**Sigh**

Tangerine · Guru

About $5000 for pulling a tooth, placing an implant, and restoring the implant is about the normal price. Maybe a little on the high side.
You can get your work cheaper if you opt for just local anesthesia instead of being put under as well.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

Have the mercury filling pulled and replaced and have a crown put on. Wear a bite plate at night. That is what I did. And yes it is a substantial cost for it to be done correctly and not to have to repeat 10 years down the road. I've had it done.

Blankie · Guru

I would guess a crown would do it. I had a few done maybe 5 or 6 years ago. I think they were about $3,000 each, and dental insurance paid for more than half of it.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

You cannot live with a cracked tooth - it's going to get worse. Go to the dentist and find out your options.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

I've cracked a few teeth. If it isn't too bad the dentist may be able to fix it.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
You cannot live with a cracked tooth - it's going to get worse. Go to the dentist and find out your options.

I have an appt on Monday

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
You cannot live with a cracked tooth - it's going to get worse. Go to the dentist and find out your options.
I have an appt on Monday

Good girl!!

flan

TrudyML · Guru

Ugh! Tooth issues blow!

Scooby · Newbie

Honestly, I would have it pulled and go the bridge route. I have a dental hygienist friend who says she would never, ever get an implant.

My SIL had one and they pull the tooth, wait 3 months for hearing, drill the implant, wait 3 months for healing, then put the tooth/crown on top. She wishes she had just gotten a bridge too.

They are so expensive and my insurance doesn't cover implants anyway. They do cover part of a bridge and I am saving up for a bridge. I used to take large amounts of prednisone and it has done a number on my teeth. I have had 4 root canals with crowns and ended up pulling one of those because it just wouldn't stop hurting.

We have a nationally know cosmetic dentist in our town and if I ever win the lottery (LOL) then I'm going to him. He'll put you to sleep and do all the work at once.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

Just gave DD's dentist $1,600 for some work. The next step is the bridge which will be $4,000 and that's because he is giving us a discount.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

If your DH has a regular job with the option of having an FSA account, max it out for 2016, tell the dentist you need to get through until 2016 and see what the cheapest option is. an FSA account is a max of 5K per person don't know what the family max is but at least it is tax free.

Tangerine · Guru

Bridges can be very expensive. We only place them on teeth that are already compromised by crowns or large fillings. Usually it's $1500 per unit, 1 missing tooth is a 3 unit bridge so it goes up from there. It costs us the same amount of time and lab fees as making three crowns, except it is harder to do.
Remember to floss under the bridge and really well around the anchor teeth! When those teeth go it isn't pretty. And it gets even more expensive to fix. Unless you go full denture. Most people don't want that.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
If your DH has a regular job with the option of having an FSA account, max it out for 2016, tell the dentist you need to get through until 2016 and see what the cheapest option is. an FSA account is a max of 5K per person don't know what the family max is but at least it is tax free.

And then it's like making payments since they spread it out over the year.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Tangerine wrote:
Bridges can be very expensive. We only place them on teeth that are already compromised by crowns or large fillings. Usually it's $1500 per unit, 1 missing tooth is a 3 unit bridge so it goes up from there. It costs us the same amount of time and lab fees as making three crowns, except it is harder to do.
Remember to floss under the bridge and really well around the anchor teeth! When those teeth go it isn't pretty. And it gets even more expensive to fix. Unless you go full denture. Most people don't want that.

On the top left side of my mouth, I have my back molar, then I'm missing 2 teeth that they had to pull because they were beyond saving.

My dentist said that my options were: do nothing, bridge or implant. I need to call my dental insurance because supposedly the dentist's office contacted them twice & they have not sent an estimate.

flan

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

flan327 wrote:
Tangerine wrote:
Bridges can be very expensive. We only place them on teeth that are already compromised by crowns or large fillings. Usually it's $1500 per unit, 1 missing tooth is a 3 unit bridge so it goes up from there. It costs us the same amount of time and lab fees as making three crowns, except it is harder to do.
Remember to floss under the bridge and really well around the anchor teeth! When those teeth go it isn't pretty. And it gets even more expensive to fix. Unless you go full denture. Most people don't want that.
On the top left side of my mouth, I have my back molar, then I'm missing 2 teeth that they had to pull because they were beyond saving.
My dentist said that my options were: do nothing, bridge or implant. I need to call my dental insurance because supposedly the dentist's office contacted them twice & they have not sent an estimate.
flan

Yep I had one tooth pulled years ago and need to do something about it. Have had the same insurance for all those years. They don't respond. What is up with that?

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

I had a lot of issues with my ins company. One day they had a rep on site and I went and talked to her and the issue was resolved immediately.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I know what to do_sometimes wrote:
flan327 wrote:
Tangerine wrote:
Bridges can be very expensive. We only place them on teeth that are already compromised by crowns or large fillings. Usually it's $1500 per unit, 1 missing tooth is a 3 unit bridge so it goes up from there. It costs us the same amount of time and lab fees as making three crowns, except it is harder to do.
Remember to floss under the bridge and really well around the anchor teeth! When those teeth go it isn't pretty. And it gets even more expensive to fix. Unless you go full denture. Most people don't want that.
On the top left side of my mouth, I have my back molar, then I'm missing 2 teeth that they had to pull because they were beyond saving.
My dentist said that my options were: do nothing, bridge or implant. I need to call my dental insurance because supposedly the dentist's office contacted them twice & they have not sent an estimate.
flan
Yep I had one tooth pulled years ago and need to do something about it. Have had the same insurance for all those years. They don't respond. What is up with that?

They can get away with it...

The first tooth was pulled quite a while ago, then the tooth in front of it cracked & had to be pulled. My dentist said that IF the original hole had been repaired, I probably would not have lost the second tooth.

furious

flan

aergia · Regular

for about ten years now, I have 11 teeth, all on the bottom. I have this great Upper that is no problem at all. I can eat anything. The missing bottom ones, they are all in the back. I don't miss them.
I have had a lifetime of every conceivable dental procedure except implants.
I have a rodeo drive mouth from previous work. I have no intention in the world of doing anything more than cleanings a filling if necessary.