Dentistry

Fish and Bread · Feb 27, 2008

What's the key to locating an affordable dentist? One dentist quoted me prices of about $150 for a tooth cleaning and an additional $150 per filling should fillings be necessary. So I looked in the yellow pages and many of the dentists seem to advertise things like "free apple flavored water", "no needles", and "jazz music for cowards" (I'm not kidding). What if I just want a no-frills dentist to clean my teeth, fill my cavities, and figure out why my tongue is so sore (I assume it probably has something to do with my teeth or dental work)? I don't need jazz music, a team of specialists on staff, special techniques for people afraid of needles and dentistry, or fruity water.

I'd prefer to pay half the price and just see some old guy who can fix teeth. I'll buy my fruity water at Wal-Mart and save some money. What's the key to finding someone like that?

BAFRIEND · Feb 27, 2008

Fish and Bread said:
What's the key to locating an affordable dentist? One dentist quoted me prices of about $150 for a tooth cleaning and an additional $150 per filling should fillings be necessary. So I looked in the yellow pages and many of the dentists seem to advertise things like "free apple flavored water", "no needles", and "jazz music for cowards" (I'm not kidding). What if I just want a no-frills dentist to clean my teeth, fill my cavities, and figure out why my tongue is so sore (I assume it probably has something to do with my teeth or dental work)? I don't need jazz music, a team of specialists on staff, special techniques for people afraid of needles and dentistry, or fruity water.

I'd prefer to pay half the price and just see some old guy who can fix teeth. I'll buy my fruity water at Wal-Mart and save some money. What's the key to finding someone like that?

You in school ?

tadoflamb · Feb 27, 2008

Folks around here go to Mexico.

Fish and Bread · Feb 27, 2008

BAFRIEND said:
You in school ?

Nope.

BAFRIEND · Feb 27, 2008

Fish and Bread said:
Nope.

Too bad, when I was in college I was able to get a national plan just for students.

It was a cheap semi-annual fee and cut prices to about a third.

Anyway, I would seriously check into some kind of insurance. It will probably pay for itself first visit. Don't worry about pre-existing condition clauses- even if you see a cavity, it is not a pre-condition unless you have actually been diagnosed by someone with a medical license.

Seek out insurance. If you go in for any kind of treatment without insurance- you are not only going to get it on cost, if there are complications, you can bet you are on your own.

Fish and Bread · Feb 27, 2008

BAFRIEND said:
Anyway, I would seriously check into some kind of insurance.

Though I have some savings, my income is not steady enough for me to afford insurance. And my biggest issue is a pre-existing condition having to do with a misalignment of my jaw that would require surgery to remove bones and then braces for many years. If I don't have it, they tell me I'll grind my upper teeth away completely. But I can't worry about that, because it just isn't an option to ever fix it. Yeah, you know my life sucks when that's such a minor disappointment relative to everything else that I haven't even mentioned it before here.

Annabel Lee · Feb 27, 2008

Have you tried locating a dental college? They usually have very low cost dental services. (since the students are working on you) But if it is just a cleaning and some fillings, it should be fine.

geocajun · Feb 27, 2008

Fish and Bread said:
What's the key to locating an affordable dentist? One dentist quoted me prices of about $150 for a tooth cleaning and an additional $150 per filling should fillings be necessary. So I looked in the yellow pages and many of the dentists seem to advertise things like "free apple flavored water", "no needles", and "jazz music for cowards" (I'm not kidding). What if I just want a no-frills dentist to clean my teeth, fill my cavities, and figure out why my tongue is so sore (I assume it probably has something to do with my teeth or dental work)? I don't need jazz music, a team of specialists on staff, special techniques for people afraid of needles and dentistry, or fruity water.

I'd prefer to pay half the price and just see some old guy who can fix teeth. I'll buy my fruity water at Wal-Mart and save some money. What's the key to finding someone like that?

Head to Mexico: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSN0125965620080201?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews

One of the ways Republicans are trying to stimulate the Mexican economy is by making our health care so expensive that it's cheaper to leave the country and get it.

Annabel Lee · Feb 27, 2008

I have a friend that drives down to Mexico every couple of months to buy her much needed medication. (diabetic meds among others)
She doesn't have insurance and can't afford to pay full price in the US.

eastcoast_bsc · Feb 27, 2008

Fish and Bread said:
What's the key to locating an affordable dentist? One dentist quoted me prices of about $150 for a tooth cleaning and an additional $150 per filling should fillings be necessary. So I looked in the yellow pages and many of the dentists seem to advertise things like "free apple flavored water", "no needles", and "jazz music for cowards" (I'm not kidding). What if I just want a no-frills dentist to clean my teeth, fill my cavities, and figure out why my tongue is so sore (I assume it probably has something to do with my teeth or dental work)? I don't need jazz music, a team of specialists on staff, special techniques for people afraid of needles and dentistry, or fruity water.

I'd prefer to pay half the price and just see some old guy who can fix teeth. I'll buy my fruity water at Wal-Mart and save some money. What's the key to finding someone like that?

Do you live near a Dental school ? ex: Here in Boston we have Tufts University that has a major dental school. They off cheap supervised dental work for low cost. And their reputation is good. Just a thought .

Fish and Bread · Feb 27, 2008

I live no where near Mexico and, as far as I am aware, no where near a dental school, though I could be wrong about the latter point.

eastcoast_bsc · Feb 27, 2008

Fish and Bread said:
I live no where near Mexico and, as far as I am aware, no where near a dental school, though I could be wrong about the latter point.

Again here in Boston, the city or state might have a program where you can get discounted Dental services. I would check with some of the local health agencies. ex: we have neighborhood health centers that offer free health care. But in Mass all that is now Moot, we have mandatory State health care system. Everyone is covered. But again check with the city and state.

eastcoast_bsc · Feb 27, 2008

Fish and Bread said:
I live no where near Mexico and, as far as I am aware, no where near a dental school, though I could be wrong about the latter point.

What city are you in or near in PA ?

eastcoast_bsc · Feb 27, 2008

You near Temple University, University of pennsylvania or University of Pittsburgh ?

Fish and Bread · Feb 28, 2008

eastcoast_bsc said:
You near Temple University, University of pennsylvania or University of Pittsburgh ?

I've actually somehow managed to avoid being nearby any of those places. I'll be alright on the tooth cleaning and maybe some fillings, though, I have a little in savings, I just need to find a place a bit cheaper than what I quoted earlier, which I assume is doable.

The big problem is going to be the dental surgery, which I'm just not likely to ever get. I suppose theoretically, I could get dentures if I eventually grind my upper teeth away (Not preferable, obviously, but it beats eating oatmeal and other soft foods the rest of my life if worst comes to worse), but I'm a little worried that the malalignment might be causing my sore tongue, which further worries me that I could be destroying my ability to taste in the long run, which is kind of important to me. Do taste buds grow back?

Fish and Bread · Feb 28, 2008

Calling around, everyone seems as expensive as heck. One place even quoted me up to $900 for a filling.

Why is going to the dentist so much more expensive than seeing a real doctor?

eastcoast_bsc · Feb 28, 2008

Fish and Bread said:
Calling around, everyone seems as expensive as heck. One place even quoted me up to $900 for a filling.

Why is going to the dentist so much more expensive than seeing a real doctor?

Earth calling again. Did you call the state and or city social agencies ?

twosteppin · Feb 28, 2008

I would check to see if the nearest community college has a Dental Hygiene clinic. I'm in Dental Hygiene school. We clean teeth for $10 and if any problems are found, we give copies of x-rays for $ 5 and send our clients to their own dentist. At least you could save $$$ on the cleaning. I'm sure most school clinics run the same. Good luck

Fish and Bread · Feb 28, 2008

eastcoast_bsc said:
Earth calling again. Did you call the state and or city social agencies ?

I've checked into them for other things. Basically, it looks like with SSD, I don't qualify for much because I now had an income (Kind of silly, I know). However, if I wait a couple years, I apparently automatically qualify for Medicaid, because there's some sort of timetable where people on SSD automatically qualify, or something like that. I can't say I completely understand it. Does Medicaid include dental? Maybe I can get the surgery in a couple years.

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Dentistry

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