High cost of dental care?

[alienlovechild 75]

I was told I'd have to pay about $1,300 for my dental needs but $2,300 if the insurance doesn't cover it. Does spending about 6% of my annual income on my teeth seem reasonable?

This was for the x-rays, examination, replacing 7-8 fillings and deep cleaning. I don't have any pain but I've some moderately receding gums.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I was told I'd have to pay about $1,300 for my dental needs but $2,300 if the insurance doesn't cover it. Does spending about 6% of my annual income on my teeth seem reasonable?

This was for the x-rays, examination, replacing 7-8 fillings and deep cleaning. I don't have any pain but I've some moderately receding gums.

Spending $1,300 for "x-rays, examination, replacing 7-8 fillings and deep cleaning" seems reasonable.

That said $1,300 is 6% of your income has nothing to do with the cost of the procedure, it has everything to do with your income.

[alienlovechild 75]

That said $1,300 is 6% of your income has nothing to do with the cost of the procedure, it has everything to do with your income.

I was referring to the worst case of $2,300 being about 6% of my income.

[doodlebugg 10]

That does sound reasonable. Totally OT (ok well not totally) but my dad is a periodontist who has sold his practice since he retired and both the guy who bought it and the surrounding practices (both oral surgery and dental) have seen at LEAST a 40% decline in patients. The economy has hit even the dentists since people now second guess whether they REALLY need the work done.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

That said $1,300 is 6% of your income has nothing to do with the cost of the procedure, it has everything to do with your income.

I was referring to the worst case of $2,300 being about 6% of my income.

Get a second job. Work harder.

[ED*Riza 0]

I just had my 8 fillings a week ago and paid 1010 no insurance yet. The woman told me since we are using a non network provider we might get 15-20 dollars each tooth refund from our insurance company.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Sounds like a rip to me...

[Emancipation 2]

Perhaps I was spoiled in Canada.. but I find dentists in the US charge 2-3 times the amount as dentists in Canada.. I don't trust dentists at the best of times.. but here.. it feels like they rob you blind.

[alienlovechild 75]

I just had my 8 fillings a week ago and paid 1010 no insurance yet. The woman told me since we are using a non network provider we might get 15-20 dollars each tooth refund from our insurance company.

In 2005, I had my teeth X-rayed, examined and cleaned for $75 with no insurance. I didn't have any new cavities and state of teeth hasn't changed as radically as my billings. The funny thing is they only deep cleaned half my teeth one time (didn't go back) and didn't clean them at all last time.

[Laura+Tom 2]

That does seem very expensive. But I suppose I'm used to paying NHS prices.

[mawilson 2,133]

That said $1,300 is 6% of your income has nothing to do with the cost of the procedure, it has everything to do with your income.

I was referring to the worst case of $2,300 being about 6% of my income.

Get a second job. Work harder.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That does seem very expensive. But I suppose I'm used to paying NHS prices.

My insurance pays for a checkup every six months (if you have bad teeth - you're supposed to go every 3). Actually didn't cost me anything last time I had a filling.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I was told I'd have to pay about $1,300 for my dental needs but $2,300 if the insurance doesn't cover it. Does spending about 6% of my annual income on my teeth seem reasonable?

This was for the x-rays, examination, replacing 7-8 fillings and deep cleaning. I don't have any pain but I've some moderately receding gums.

Fillings vary in price. The amalgam (mercury) fillings are the cheapest. It really depends on how pretty you want your teeth to look.

Those deep cleanings...I personally think they unnecessary except in extreme cases.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Amalgam fillings? I wouldn't bother with those.

Mercury... Mess you up!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Amalgam fillings? I wouldn't bother with those.

Mercury... Mess you up!

Is mercury in dental amalgam safe?

Mercury in dental amalgam is not poisonous. When mercury is combined with other materials in dental amalgam, its chemical nature changes, so it is essentially harmless.

The amount released in the mouth under the pressure of chewing and grinding is extremely small (1-3 micrograms)** and no cause for alarm. In fact, it is less than what patients are exposed to in food, air, and water ( 5-7 micrograms a day)**.

Ongoing scientific studies conducted over the past 100 years continue to prove that amalgam is not harmful. Claims of diseases caused by mercury in amalgam are anecdotal, as are claims of miraculous cures achieved by removing amalgam. These claims have not been proven scientifically

http://www.dentalgentlecare.com/dental_amalgam.htm