January 02, 2008

So Much for That Raise ...

One should not start a new year crying ...

I just got off the phone with the new "I think I'm fantastic" dentist office. Apparently my entire mouth full of is rotting out of my head at a speed I never imagined possible. Well, ok ... its not that bad ... but it is bad.

The first installment of four filling appointments (yes, I said four) is slated to cost me a whopping $1,095 and my insurance has graciously agreed to pay the lovely sum of $84. That only leaves me with another $1,011 to come up with.

multiply times four ...

I'm looking at approximately $4000 flying out of my bank account before the year even gets off to a rolling start.

Oh, and did I note that Mr. I Am So Fantastic has no idea why I have so many cavities? He assumed I drink soda and eat a lot of candy ... neither of which I do. I am a daily brusher. Granted a less than daily flosser. But I avoid gum, mints, soda, candy, chewy foods ... so care to explain why I'm looking at drill-a-palooza 08 ...?

Someone please tell me I'm still sleeping off a bad night of binge drinking and that this is just a nightmare I will wake up from quite soon ...

Posted by Princess Cat at January 2, 2008 12:19 PM @ 12:19 PM in What the Crap? // Permalink | TrackBack
Comments

Considering the $$$'s involved have you thought about getting a second opinion? That's an awful lot of money. I think it would be a good thing to do even if the second dentist tells you the same because then you'll know for sure. Besides if the teeth have waited this long - they can wait a tad longer without a problem. Unless you have a raging toothache.

Posted by: Teresa at January 2, 2008 03:14 PM

Did you grow up around non floridated water?

I did...

I have had that Dentist appointment before.

Gotta love BCBS Federal it sucks ass when dental work needs to be done.

DH needs crowns, on his entire lower jaw, 10,000$$$

our insurance will pay 25$

Posted by: AWTM at January 2, 2008 05:21 PM

Am avoiding dentist like plague. Need two crowns and some crown buildup work because I got root canals but couldn't afford the rest of the work. I'm all about just getting out of pain, not the whole kit and kaboodle. I hate thinking that my mouth could be worth more than a year's rent if I kept up with all the required maintenance. ...

Posted by: dawn at January 2, 2008 11:01 PM

All dentists are fucking thieves. I'd get a second opinion before I did anything. On the other hand never go with the cheapest one either. You want quality work but at a reasonable price.

You would be very surprised to know how much the price and what supposedly needs to be done varies from dentist to dentist.

I have a friend that works in a dental lab where they make the crowns, bridgework, false teeth etc. He tells me that dentists are the biggest, greediest thieves on the planet. He said most charge the patient between 8 and 10 times what the actual labwork costs them.

Good luck with it sweetie. I hate dentists. I only go when I absolutely have to. It doesn't matter if you go once a year or once every five years. The cost is the same if you take good care of your teeth in between visits.

Flossing is the most important part of oral hygiene. If you don't floss, you may as well not do anything else either. Between your teeth is where the bacteria and other critters grow that cause cavities and bad breath.

I'm over half a century old and still have all my teeth with no cavities. The only ones I don't have are the 4 wisdom teeth. The sooner you get rid of those the better off you are. They are useless teeth that do nothing but harbor bacteria that rot your other rear molars and make it difficult to brush and floss those back teeth.

I go to a dentist once every 5 years on average. I always get a second opinion if they want to do anything that costs over $1000.

Get what you need done now and take good care of your teeth in the future. Never take one dentist's word for anything. Believe me, they make it up as they go along. Their prices all depend on how old their car and house is or if they have a new kid on the way or maybe the holidays are coming and they are short on cash.

;-)
Joe

Posted by: Assrot at January 5, 2008 10:25 AM

I had to do this two years ago. I needed two new fillings and two replacements. I assume you're younger than me, but what I was told is that fillings last about 15 years. The two I had to have replaced where about 20 years old. I had all four done in one appointment and enough lidocaine to sedate a small village. I drooled for a good 24 hours. Good times.

Posted by: Pia at January 8, 2008 11:16 AM