Got some yucky news today.

[danni]

I went to the dentist today because 2 fillings fell out, and it turns out I'm going to need more than just replacement fillings. I'm going to need 3 root canals, 8 crowns and they are going to cut my gums open to get a wisdom tooth that is heading in the wrong direction. The dentist couldn't figure out why I wasn't in any pain. Not only is that going to mean a sore mouth but it's going to be well over $10,000!!!! We have insurance but it's only 80% up to $2000. The dentist said we could spread it out and the will get preauthorization from the insurace company before we go ahead with anything, so that's ok. I just hope nothing starts to hurt before it gets done.

[bumplett]

ohh danni, I'm so sorry -- I wish you the best on this one! Maybe you can just get one thing at a time done - thank goodness you have dental ins!! 80% is better than nothing!

(can you get a 2nd opinion from another dentist before you have all of this done??)

[danni]

I talked to another dentist about 3 yrs ago and some of it needed to be done then, but I didn't have ins at the time. Waiting just made things worse. He did show me all the xrays and you can see the bad spots.

[emily_hope]

I think I would get a second opinion just to be on the safe side before I got this done. That is an awful lot of dental work. I don't think I have ever heard anyone say they needed that much work done. If you have to get it done, hopefully you can spread it out so you don't have all that cost at once. That is a chunk of money! Good luck!

[YankeeMom]

I'm feeling for you. I have similar issues going on. I've had 2 root canals, going on #3. None of them have crowns yet, as I can't afford the $300+ each AFTER insurance. Plus I still have all of my wisdom teeth that my dentist wants out ...and lucky me I have FIVE wisdom teeth, plus an extra side tooth that's waaaaay up in my upper jaw (not showing or bothering me, I didn't even know it was there until my last xray!).

Thankfully, like you, I don't have any pain either.

I hope it stays that way for you until you can get it all done. I've been working on my mouth for two years now.

[Telephus44]

DH waited too long to have his dental work done, and wasn't in much pain because the nerves had died. Then one night he handed me half a tooth that "just fell out." We had dental insurance but the plan had a cap of $2000 that they would pay per person - we ended up paying $5000 to have all the work done that needed to be done.

So - I feel for you. I'm glad that your dentist is willing to make payment arrangements for you. We ended up having to put it on a credit card.

[dcompton]

I had a crown done last year and the dentist didn't think it needed a root canal and didn't do it. Now it looks like I may need to have the root canal after all -- which means destroying the crown and having to pay for a second one. I have dental insurance that helps some, but not very much. I'll be out hundreds if this happens. I liked this dentist because he does have a conservative approach and doesn't rush in to "fix" things until he's sure, but this time, I'm afraid it's backfired. Paying for the same crown twice really doesn't seem fair! Still, I'm not sure I blame the dentist. He seems to have been quite good all the time I've been going to him. I think he just blew a judgment call. Everyone's human, medicine isn't an exact science, and, well, it's only money.....

[suzysaver]

I had a lot of work done last year, I had waited and waited for years..I hate the dentist. I luckily found a very nice one after years of bad experiences. I had wisdom teeth removed, a root canal and several fillings done. I promised myself from this time forward I would go in and have my regular cleaning and checks...and no long wait until it got so bad. We need to get my husband in there this year and get him up to date, that should be a chunk of change.

[Luv2BeFrugal]

Awww...I'm so sorry. That sucks!

Well, like an earlier poster said "80% is better than none".

Hoping that you remain pain free until it's all fixed...

[nwmissourigal]

I am going thru the same thing. But I did get a second opinon. The dentist I went to also said I needed about 10 grand worth of work done and I thought that was a little high. And I was right. I went to another dentist that I trust and his prices were much better. We also have insurance that pays 80% and I am just getting alittle done each time I go....a second opinon couldn't hurt..

[peanut]

Danni, considering your financial situation (as per your siggy), I'd definitely get a second opinion. Also, I'm in Saskatchewan and that same dental work would be about $6000 max here. Our insurance company also pays 80%, but of everything. So I'd ask. I just had a root canal and crown done for $900 total cost (insurance + my share). The crown was $459.

Good luck!

[frugalfriend]

I would definitely get a second opinion when it comes to that much work! It will only give you peace of mind, and no regrets later. I once was told by a dentist that I needed some expensive in-depth gum surgery which another dentist who I really trust, told me that it was not necessary at all.

Good luck to you! And thanks for the reminder to go see the dentist, I've been putting it off too long!

[Jo]

Oh Danni Just seeing this now...I'm so sorry that you're struggling like this. Doesn't surprise me though...if 2 fillings "fell out", that almost always means there's other stuff going on too.
I'd get a second opinion, just to put your mind at ease....but what you're needing and the quote you were given sounds right on target(it's those 8 crowns that are the big $$$). Dental insurance is frustrating...it "sounds good"...80% up to $2000, but it doesn't take much to meet that $2K. As you said, though..it's better than nothing.
Ask him to prioritize it all for you....I'd say get the root canals first(gotta get that infection out of your body), and maybe the wisdom tooth if that's a chronic infection site. The crowns may be able to be spread out over a few years if you're careful....but of course, I can't see your mouth or your xrays, so I can't give you real concrete advice there.
I don't know how the Canadian system works, but I have often referred patients to our "local" dental school(Newark NJ...45 mins away) when the costs were just prohibitive. The appointments are long, but the work is first class.
Also...I don't remember who here said that the crown needed to be "redone" after the root canal.....but sometimes it can be done by drilling a hole in the chewing surface of the crown. That happens all the time, and that's how we try to do it.
Please let me know if I can help answer questions or decipher the lingo.
And a PS to Danni....I honeymooned in Alberta(Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper)...what a gorgeous area! Fell in love with it watching the 88 Olympics.

[danni]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I did take the xrays to another dentist today and he said that the work does need to be done. And with the crowns being $1300 each it is going to be expensive. So I talked to the dentist and he said we can do one at a time or whatever works for us.
Right now I'm waiting for preauthorization for a crown and root canal and then I'll get the one tooth done. The dentist said they could preauthorize everything before the work was done so I'd know how much would be covered.

[YankeeMom]

Holy smokes your crowns are expensive!!
Is that just the crowns or the entire procedure? Phew! I'll stop complaining about my $350 per root canal and $350 per crown now