Dental bill makes me mad

[stracci2000]

I'm just venting here.
I cracked a molar two weeks ago. I large piece broke off, about 1/4 of the tooth. While I was eating a salad.
Anyway, I went in today to have impressions taken for an "onlay", kinda like a partial ceramic cap which will be cemented in place. A temporary cap was fashioned, and the permanent cap will be placed in 2 weeks.
One tooth. $1200 dollars. My insurance covers 50%. So my bill was $570.
One tooth!
I'm rather irritated. Why so much?
I coulda paid bills or bought bling with that money. I guess I should be grateful that I am able to pay, but the price tag is ridiculous. And insurance is a racket. It seems that the medical costs are so inflated, and insurance is a joke.
Just call it $570, without insurance. That's probably the real value of the procedure, anyway. Aaarrrgh!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

Ugh, sorry to hear about your tooth and that ridiculous bill. It really is sickening how much medical expenses are, don't even get me started on vet expenses either!

DH in the past has taken terrible care of his teeth and had to have a full deep under the gum line scaling done, and it had to be done over multiple appointments. I think we ended up having to pay over $600 AFTER insurance. So now I nag the hell out of him which drives him crazy but it's cheaper so I don't care lol!

Also, it's nice that we have the money to pay for these things but that money can buy so many things, especially this time of year. I don't blame you for being disgusted.

 

[Karl_K]

Sadly that is the way it works these days.
Prices are sky high and the insurance sucks.

 

[AprilBaby]

I work at the dentist, we do full ceramic Cerec crowns for $1100 and you go home same day with it. The machine costs $25,000 and each ceramic block is $40. Then there is the time and staff. Is there profit, yes, but that machine is a fortune. In your case the lab free is about $150. Double that for profit, most insurance pays 50%. You are paying a lot for an inferior product to mine. But think of it this way...a diamond is way more expensive and not as useful.

 

[LLJsmom]

Won’t go into details. Suffice it to say I had a $25k bill for kids’ dental procedure (not covered by insurance) which took place in the hospital, out patient procedure. Much more but insurance is the biggest scam, but can’t risk not having it.

 

[Queenie60]

In my eyes - it's criminal. We pay a fortune for insurance and they don't pay much of the bill.

 

[OoohShiny]

The US system seems insane to me - and likely any other UK forum member.

Our National Health Service is faaaaaaar from perfect, like any enormous organisation, but a basic filling is only about £45 IIRC.

Yes, we all pay more tax to fund it, but if the alternative is a US-style system that means if you are poor, you are apparently fine to die or go into crippling levels of debt because you couldn't afford $$$$ a month for insurance, I am just fine wi8h the NHS inefficiencies and longer waiting times!

 

[Austina]

That’s really expensive, my DH had an onlay recently and it was about £200/£250, and that’s privately. Under the NHS, it would’ve been considerably less.

 

[Ellen]

IMO nothing EVER warrants what dentists and orthodontists charge. It's a racket.

I'm sorry.

 

[MarionC]

Ellen, I hear you.
I just paid 2200 for laser gum surgery around two back teeth for myself, (took five minutes) and dental cleaning with extraction for two dogs, 1200. No insurance, so thank goodness I can afford it...but that would have been a nice eternity band for sure!!!
To stay on the glass half full side of things, I am not only thankful that I can afford it, but that we have the technology to make life better for us and for our pets.

 

[Ally T]

Wow! That is just daylight robbery!! And @LLJsmom - how much???!

I second @OoohShiny about our NHS system being way from perfect in the UK, but when we need them they are generally there. I have a soft spot in the centre of a top front tooth. Over the years it has worn away into a significant dip, and recently I noticed it had some hairline fractures through it. After x-ray (which cost me £60) we found the rest of the surrounding tooth & back to be perfect.

On Monday my dentist basically built up the entire front of my tooth with slightly transparent white filling then set it hard (Nanny McPhee style) ground it down into shape & then polished it up. Almost like putting a lovely coat on the entire front surface of my tooth. It looks amazing, you can barely see the soft spot in the centre anymore, which had a creamy colour to it (& always bothered me as I have lovely teeth besides) & now I don’t need to worry about losing the bottom half of my front tooth biting something hard. It took 30 minutes & cost me £80. Job done.

 

[missy]

Dear @stracci2000 I'm sorry honey and I am just glad you were able to get it fixed and can afford to pay the outrageous prices in general.

I have been dealing with a healthcare merry go round for a long while now and yes medical care (dental, endocrinology, NP, dermatology etc) is super expensive when not covered in full or great part. I had all my mercury fillings removed this summer and that was quite costly. Dental insurance covered some but we had to pay a large part of that. I was grateful they covered something truthfully as dental insurance is not comprehensive for us at all.

My heart goes out to all those who cannot afford excellent health care and that is a huge tragedy. When I get upset about the medical bills my dh reminds me we are fortunate that we can afford it and I should save my energy and aggravation for things we cannot so easily take care (like health issues etc) and not waste my frustration and energy on things we can manage. Wise words.

So I am with you in you should go ahead and vent because health care here is a travesty in many ways but then remember we are so lucky we can take care of these bills. And don't get me started on the pharmaceutical companies and the cost of meds. Wow really ludicrous and outrageous and I try not to think of the equivalent cost in diamonds.

It's a crying shame that anyone in this country has to go without good healthcare and that people die because they cannot afford healthcare. That needs to be changed. Somehow someway and hopefully some day not in the too far future...

Sending you hugs and healing thoughts.

 

[Austina]

IMO nothing EVER warrants what dentists and orthodontists charge. It's a racket.

I'm sorry.

Having worked in a dental surgery for many years, I think you’d be surprised at how much supplies cost. Having said that, your costs for dental treatment in the US does seem excessive.

As @missy says, I find the cost of pharmaceuticals worse. We used an antibiotic called Metronidazole, and I know how much that cost to buy and was dispensed at a cost of £6 per 7 day course.

The same antibiotic was prescribed to treat my dog’s colitis, despite me ringing to ask for further supplies, so I didn’t need a diagnosis, I was charged £68 for exactly the same product. Why? Because the E.U. brought in legislation that if I hadn’t seen the vet for 6 months, I HAD to have a consultation, despite it being a lifelong on going condition. THAT’S racketeering in my book.

 

[tyty333]

I had a crown this year and I think I paid $600 after insurance. I also cracked a root and had to have the tooth extracted and an implant done so I've
spent way more on my mouth this year than I care to admit. My DH commented that insurance dosent really seem to get us much. The cost of
insurance is high, plus it only covering 50% AND only paying out $1500 max really doesnt get you much.

I'd much rather have spent that money on bling but after not having a molar to eat with for 3 months (time for implant to graft/heal) has shown me
how important they are!

I sympathise @stracci2000 !

 

[stracci2000]

Thanks everyone, for all your replies.
These past few months have been pretty hard on my pocketbook.
Starting with a family trip to Florida, new tires on the car, paying the horrendous auto insurance premium(I always pay in full), plumbing repair, etc.
Then the furnace stopped working. We managed to fix it on our own! We discovered how to clean the dirty flame sensor---thank you Youtube! Or that would've been another big expense.
And now the holidays. And my paycheck isn't that great, believe me.
But, I guess I am still walking and talking. On this Thanksgiving I'm thankful for that so I will just tighten the belt for a while!

 

[Ellen]

paying the horrendous auto insurance premium(I always pay in full),

Not wanting to get personal, but have you considered paying monthly, it does make things a bit easier.

 

[stracci2000]

Not wanting to get personal, but have you considered paying monthly, it does make things a bit easier.

According to my calculations, I'm saving about $70 yr. paying in full. I also took an online defensive drivers course which saves $33 each premium period. I'm doing everything I can to lower the costs since my premium shot up after a minor fender bender(my fault) 2 1/2 years ago.
Believe me, I have suffered over that stupid mistake.
The amount should go back down to normal in May, according to my agent. I truly cannot wait for that. I will be so happy.

 

[Ellen]

According to my calculations, I'm saving about $70 yr. paying in full. I also took an online defensive drivers course which saves $33 each premium period. I'm doing everything I can to lower the costs since my premium shot up after a minor fender bender(my fault) 2 1/2 years ago.
Believe me, I have suffered over that stupid mistake.
The amount should go back down to normal in May, according to my agent. I truly cannot wait for that. I will be so happy.

Well I knew it would cost a bit more to do it monthly, but that is a pretty good savings. *sigh* They get you either way.

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

@stracci2000, I am sorry and I sympathize. I'm glad that you are in a position to pay these necessary procedures .

Since I'm not American, I struggle to understand when people don't want health insurance.
Being on PS has helped me understand this a lot better : an insurance that's expensive and covers only half of your costs is cr*#py.


I'm in continental Europe and have had excellent healthcare all my life. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I had no insurance. My insurance covers everything except dental implants, ceramics, and crowns. Those are covered roughly 40% (they'll reimburse the cost of the basic alternative, so amalgam instead of ceramic etc), otherwise I pay 0 copay (ZERO EUROS). I have a private insurance for these dental issues that costs me 20€/month and covers 85%of the additional costs.
I never waited more than a week for an appointment and have FREE choice regarding my doctor. If I want to see a specialist I need a referral from a general practicioner OR pay 35€ out of pocket....

But then again, I as I have already said: those mandatory (for employees of all sorts including the very top tiers) built in safety measures (health insurance and free secondary education, pensions, old age home insurance, free healthcare for children, disability and unemployment insurance) leave you with a lower net income - so it's harder to get individually rich.
=
Less bling, and fewer diamonds to gaze at on the streets....

 

[OoohShiny]

The amount should go back down to normal in May, according to my agent. I truly cannot wait for that. I will be so happy.

They always say that but it never does lol

 

[tyty333]

I think we pay car insurance every 6 months. It doesnt cost us any more to pay twice a year vs once a year. Our son will be getting his drivers license
next year...the new insurance bill will be eye-opening I'm sure!

 

[ringbling17]

I think we pay car insurance every 6 months. It doesnt cost us any more to pay twice a year vs once a year. Our son will be getting his drivers license
next year...the new insurance bill will be eye-opening I'm sure!

You can start getting quotes now. I did that way before my daughter got her license. I even asked about getting a new “used” car for her as opposed to just adding her to one of our cars. I did it while she was a junior in high school.
We added my daughter to our plan in April as soon as she got her license. She was still 17 at the time but a senior. She is driving our oldest car which is a 2011 Honda Odyssey but is also listed as an occasional driver on our other two cars (I think that is how they explained it) . They asked for a record of her school grades and she did not take a defensive driving class. It came out to $53 more a month. She works now so she pays me for the car insurance each month.
I would find out if they can give you discounts for grades, defensive driving, etc. We were going to also do the defensive driving for her but we weren’t saving that much, I think $5 a month and the class was going to cost $400 so it would take over 6 years to break even.
We might still do the class for her just so she can be a safer driver anyway. We will see.

 

[OoohShiny]

I would find out if they can give you discounts for grades, defensive driving, etc. We were going to also do the defensive driving for her but we weren’t saving that much, I think $5 a month and the class was going to cost $400 so it would take over 6 years to break even.
We might still do the class for her just so she can be a safer driver anyway. We will see.

Definitely get the defensive driving class done - it may cost $400 and take 6 years to break even with the monthly insurance savings, but not having a crash saves a lot more money and means the risk of personal injury and all the related pain/stress is much reduced.

Everyone should do advanced driver training IMO - it is an important life skill and can be transferred to whatever car one is driving, in whatever location one is travelling, so is never money wasted!

 

[ringbling17]

Definitely get the defensive driving class done - it may cost $400 and take 6 years to break even with the monthly insurance savings, but not having a crash saves a lot more money and means the risk of personal injury and all the related pain/stress is much reduced.

Everyone should do advanced driver training IMO - it is an important life skill and can be transferred to whatever car one is driving, in whatever location one is travelling, so is never money wasted!

Yes. That’s what we were thinking too.
ETA: She did take a 6 hour driving course (mandatory by NJ for all drivers under 17 before you can have supervised driving with a permit) which also reduced our insurance. And then additional driving classes just bc I was so nervous teaching her myself.

 

[rocks]

I work at the dentist, we do full ceramic Cerec crowns for $1100 and you go home same day with it. The machine costs $25,000 and each ceramic block is $40. Then there is the time and staff. Is there profit, yes, but that machine is a fortune. In your case the lab free is about $150. Double that for profit, most insurance pays 50%. You are paying a lot for an inferior product to mine. But think of it this way...a diamond is way more expensive and not as useful.

Actually, a cerec is way more than $25k. That would be an older used unit. There are four components to a cerec system...the camera, the processor the milling unit, and the glazing oven....close to $100k or more depending on the configuration. My husband has two systems and uses them extensively. He even does anterior that are absolutely gorgeous. The price for cerec restorations varies based on which tooth, the block used and your geography. Where we live, $1100 or $1200 is a bargain, especially since you leave the office with the permanent restoration.

 

[peacechick]

I’m lucky that I have relatively good teeth (have some fillings from when I was younger but haven’t needed dental work in 10 years or so). But DS has weak teeth and after paying a $2000 bill for dental surgery, I now take him to his dentist every 4 months or so so we can nip new cavities in the bud. The visits are not cheap but I learnt that costs can really escalate when it comes to dental work!

 

[rocks]

Have his teeth been sealed? Also, we have our nieces use a timer and electric brush. They actually know how long they brush (they are 10 and 14...started years ago).

 

[stracci2000]

Actually, a cerec is way more than $25k. That would be an older used unit. There are four components to a cerec system...the camera, the processor the milling unit, and the glazing oven....close to $100k or more depending on the configuration. My husband has two systems and uses them extensively. He even does anterior that are absolutely gorgeous. The price for cerec restorations varies based on which tooth, the block used and your geography. Where we live, $1100 or $1200 is a bargain, especially since you leave the office with the permanent restoration.

It doesn't feel like a "bargain" to me.

 

[Manderr]

I’m a dental assistant also. I’d recommend a different insurance perhaps? Some insurance cover way more than others. Prices are way out of hand but the X-ray machines alone are $100k. It’s crazy!

 

[peacechick]

Have his teeth been sealed? Also, we have our nieces use a timer and electric brush. They actually know how long they brush (they are 10 and 14...started years ago).

No, but he’s only five. I’ll be sure to ask my dentist about the sealant next visit. It’s only been recently that he’s been able to sit through the whole dental cleaning process. We brush his teeth with an electric toothbrush and floss too...