I sat down last week and budgeted out the entire month of July since I get all the bills pretty much at the same time. I thought I had everything all set and then...
DS #2's dental issues.
I took him on Friday and they told me he needs 7 fillings, 1 silver crown and a partial nerve treatment. He's only 4 years old! I was given a list of prices for everything:
A grand total of $1,019 dollars! They're doing it two teeth at a time, which I guess makes it better. It's about $105 dollars per filling and it'll be pretty easy to guess since they gave me a chart of his teeth and which teeth they'd be doing at each appointment.
This is where it gets weird. They said 7 silver fillings and 1 silver crown. The diagram tells me 6 fillings and 2 silver crowns. I was given a predetermination that says 6 fillings and 2 silver crowns, which coincides with the chart I got. Our insurance reimburses us within 4-5 days of the appointment and they sent in a predetermination form for prices, and if I space the fillings two weeks apart then we should be ok. I'm just wondering if I should budget in an even 400 dollars to cover the most expensive appointment for July or wait until August.
What would you do?
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Wife to DH since 10/31/2002!
Mom to DS #1 08/13/98 Mom to DS #2 09/11/03
I agree - would he not lose these teeth anyway is a years time or so?
if he really does need it though (and I am by no means a dentist so he probably does!)
I assume that predetermination was the correct and what he told you was incorrect.
Maybe you should call to confirm? just for your own perice of mind.
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No way should you have to have all that work done on a 4 year old. My daughter did have a lot of dental work when she was little, but the baby teeth are going to fall out or maybe some can be just pulled out if he is in pain.
I would just do the most important at this time. No 4 year old should get a crown at all. That's crazy!
I disagree about finding a new dentist. Even though the baby teeth will eventually fall out that doesnt mean they should be left untreated. If left untreated the cavities will get worse and may become painful and infected. I think you dentist is doing a good job by treating them now.
I would get another opinion...I think gold and silver crowns are a bit much for teeth that will be falling out ..The fillings and nerve treatment I can see but not the crowns...
I would get a second opinion. That doesn't mean that he doesn't need the work, just a second opinion to see that it is all necessary.I have never heard for such a small child getting crowns.
I disagree about finding a new dentist. Even though the baby teeth will eventually fall out that doesnt mean they should be left untreated. If left untreated the cavities will get worse and may become painful and infected. I think you dentist is doing a good job by treating them now.
I disagree with not getting the treatment done too. I would take care of his teeth because it will damage his underlying permanent teeth.
View this link for more answers to why baby teeth should be treated.
OMG!! I would get a second opinion. I can see filling a cavity but how can a four yr old have 4 cavities. Do you have fluoride in your water? If not he should be getting fluoride tablets. A four yr old shouldn't need a root canal and crown. That's' bazaar. Never heard of such a thing.
My DS #2 had and continues to have what they "pits" in his molars. Just his bottom ones. All they do is put a sealent on. Now I know that is a preventive measure. but sometime they do have to do some drilling.
I just don't understand why a child that young should have so much dental work.
He has been complaining of his teeth hurting on the lower right side, which is where the partial nerve treatment and the silver crown will need to be. The two places that they need to put silver crowns have more than 50% of the top tooth surface eaten away by a cavity. His cavities are pretty noticeable (there's actually holes you can stick the end of a dental scraper inside).
He was a big juice drinker and was nursed until he was 2 years old. He's also never been big on brushing his teeth and even when I had to sit him on my lap and hold his mouth open to brush them, he'd cry his little heart out because it bothered him. After this last trip to the dentist, he's been really excited about brushing and flossing his teeth. He's also been ok with just drinking water and milk (he hated water until the last few months) and I think that the lack of flouride is what did his teeth in.
I have horrible teeth. I don't want him suffering the same fate.
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Wife to DH since 10/31/2002!
Mom to DS #1 08/13/98 Mom to DS #2 09/11/03
It could be genetics, if your teeth had issues. If his teeth are hurting him it's probably worth it to have the work done. I don't know much about the baby teeth, but if fixing the baby teeth will benefit his permanent teeth it would be worth the money.
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JMHO>...I would just have the teeth pulled out..they are baby teeth so I can't see a need to pay that much money when he will lose them anyway..I'm not sure why his Dr didn't give you a prescription for flouride? I hope he feels better real soon!
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Kody
Dustin
My son had 8 permanent teeth at 4 but I agree get a second opinion I wouldnt pay that for a 4 yr old, mine is 6 now and he has only been to the dentist once per the dentist's instructions I am supposed to bring him back this year for xrays and a check up.
I just called to get DS into the dentist for that first filling, thinking that it'd be next week. They aren't booking until September! I did manage to get him in for his first filling on July 30th, so I guess that made July's budget a bit more tolerable.
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Wife to DH since 10/31/2002!
Mom to DS #1 08/13/98 Mom to DS #2 09/11/03
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July's budget just got a whole lot harder...
Simba 3 years old
4 weeks old
Groceries (food and non food items)
Eating Out Challenge: $0/$100
$56.34
but I agree get a second opinion I wouldnt pay that for a 4 yr old, mine is 6 now and he has only been to the dentist once per the dentist's instructions I am supposed to bring him back this year for xrays and a check up.
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