Can you do the math on these dental fees? (wisdom teeth, dentist, side)

[howard555]

Originally Posted by CarolinaWoman

If this is that group in Florence SC. I made the trip with a friend, she needed a new partial. The place was packed people from everywhere. It was like herding cattle through. We stayed at a local motel the night before so she could get there early enough to have the impression and receive her partial that day. I stayed at the motel and she went to the clinic. After the impression she returned and we shopped, had lunch and just hung out.

She returned to the clinic as advised at 4:00 and what a mess. Either they mixed her impression up with another person as it wasn't the two teeth she was missing. She had paid the money out front and they wouldn't return her money. The only option was reschedule the appointment and try again.

If this is for you howard555 what about that Dr. Reeves at the Rock Hill Dental Center on Celanese Road.

Yes, Sexton in Florence.

In Oct. 2010 I went to Dr. Reeves with a tooth pain. This tooth was not broken off at the gum but still he said he could not pull it, and referred me to an oral surgeon. If he could not have pulled that one, I am assuming he can not pull 5 that are broken off at the gum. I'm confident he can not pull these current 5, so no need to pay to be told he can not.
I've recommended Dr. Reeves to many people. He is one of the very few that will take an emergency tooth, meaning it hurts today and you only want that one tooth dealt with. And not all the problems that might be in your mouth, via some full mouth x-ray.
Dr. Reeves will x-ray the tooth you go there for, and does not pull out a magnifying glass to look for every tooth that has an issue. For this he should be commended as one of the best in the area.

Here is my current problem.
Sexton is getting bad reviews. (?)
Affordable Dentures is a chain and getting bad reviews. (?)

So, how should I approach the dentist I went to last week?
I wanted these 5 teeth pulled, and a 5 tooth upper plate. Approximate cost was a total of $750.00.
They took a full mouth x-ray and individual teeth x-rays, and it was explained to me that to only get an upper partial (for cosmetic reasons) was a weak idea and a partial waste of money. I was told that the two teeth needed to secure the upper plate need repairs. And the condition of the lower teeth will greatly decrease the life span of the upper plate = the need for a lower plate. And to accomodate the lower plate, 3 more teeth need to be pulled besides the 5. Total cost for all of that, upper and lower at their prices, and the 8 teeth extracted is:
$1570 for the two plates.
$ unknown for dental services for the repairs.
$ unknown for oral surgery, since massive tori needs to be removed before a lower plate can even become an option. The dentist suggested that while I was sedated for the tori surgery go ahead and let the oral suregon remove the 8 teeth at the same time.

So, my $750 idea of a 5 tooth upper plate, would be $1570.00 for upper and lower + cost for dental services to repair multiple teeth + cost for oral surgeon to pull 8 and remove tori = $2500 +++++.

If I assume that the tori can be removed at Sexton's price of $750, excluding the 8 extractions and the dental repairs, I'm well above $2500.00 in cost, or maybe alot more.

When all I wanted was a 5 tooth upper for total of $750.00. I planned to out fox Affordable Dentures. Instead of going there for the 5 extractions and a temporary upper and go back and pay again for the permanent partial, my plan was to get the 5 teeth pulled at the lowest cost I could find. Then let my gums and bone heal and settle for 6 months. THEN go to Affordable Dentures, and say "surprise, I don't need you to pull any teeth, I don't need to pay you for a temporary, my gums and bone have healed, give me a permanent upper partial." Maybe the lower teeth will affect the life span of the upper, if there is not a lower plate. I do not know. And if the upper lasted 2-3-4 years, for $750, that would have been fine with me. I am concerned about the immediate cost and immediate cosmetic issues and not whether the upper plate last 10 years.

We have 1-2 local places wth dental students. They only do teeth cleanings and their fees are rather high. So as far as I know there are no free extractions by dental students. Why not I'm not sure. It seems a dentist could be there as the assistant. If the students only do cleanings, then that is not much practice.

[AnonChick]

Well then go ahead and do what you're planning on doing, and let us know how it works out when you're done. Good luck!

[CarolinaWoman]

How urgent is your dental needs? The North Carolina Mission of Mercy travels the state and provides free dental work. Extractions, cleanings, fillings, dental repairs and some partial work. They held the clinic in Charlotte last August. According to their schedule they plan a trip to South Carolina.

2012 N.C. Missions of Mercy Clinic Schedule Announced Jan. 9, 2012

On the schedule they will be in Charlotte and Gastonia ... but I don't know if being a resident of North Carolina is required. I don't do Facebook but it appears they have a Facebook account. Perhaps you can find out when they will be in South Carolina or ask about the need for residency in NC.

[howard555]

Originally Posted by CarolinaWoman

How urgent is your dental needs? The North Carolina Mission of Mercy travels the state and provides free dental work. Extractions, cleanings, fillings, dental repairs and some partial work. They held the clinic in Charlotte last August. According to their schedule they plan a trip to South Carolina.

2012 N.C. Missions of Mercy Clinic Schedule Announced Jan. 9, 2012

On the schedule they will be in Charlotte and Gastonia ... but I don't know if being a resident of North Carolina is required. I don't do Facebook but it appears they have a Facebook account. Perhaps you can find out when they will be in South Carolina or ask about the need for residency in NC.

No urgency as far as pain, just cosmetic.

I'll check that Mercy Clinic out.

This dentist who wants to remove 8 instead of 5, and a lower plate as well as an upper, is looking at the whole picture and trying to fix me up for many many years to come.

I may not like plates at all.
I may try to get him to go with the upper plate and let me try that for a few weeks, though he thinks the lower teeth will damage the upper plate, over time.

I felt I could afford the $750 for upper partial and extractions.
With his "comprehensive" plan I'm over $3000 for sure and way over my head, unless I want to die with alot of unpaid debt.

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I got the paperwork in the mail from the oral surgeon who will give me a free consultation in July.
This doctor is a true specialist.

The logo on the envelope says "Oral and Implant Surgery Center"
And they are open 5 days a week. But, out of those 5 days they only allow 2-4 pm on Monday and Tuesday for consultations. The rest of the time they are in surgery.
So, 10% (4 hours) of the their operating hours each week are consultations, and the other 90% (36 hours) is all surgery. He has surely done it all, and seen it all.

[howard555]

Originally Posted by CarolinaWoman

How urgent is your dental needs? The North Carolina Mission of Mercy travels the state and provides free dental work. Extractions, cleanings, fillings, dental repairs and some partial work. They held the clinic in Charlotte last August. According to their schedule they plan a trip to South Carolina.

2012 N.C. Missions of Mercy Clinic Schedule Announced Jan. 9, 2012

On the schedule they will be in Charlotte and Gastonia ... but I don't know if being a resident of North Carolina is required. I don't do Facebook but it appears they have a Facebook account. Perhaps you can find out when they will be in South Carolina or ask about the need for residency in NC.

Estimates for the Mission of Mercy:
1. They saw about 500 people in Sparta and 1000 expected to be seen in Fayetteville.
2. Sparta being a smaller area, there was never more than about 200 in line. Lines begin to form around 11pm, Thursdays and in case of bad weather the clinics usually have tents for the waiting.
3. Unfortunately for me, Gastonia and Hickory, two of the closest to me, do not have lab techs, so no partials.
4. First come first serve. People can go Friday and get on the list of those to be seen, but they might have to wait until Saturday to actually be seen. Those not showing up at all until Saturday, may or may not be seen.
5. Luckily for me, partials are only front teeth which is what I have. Impressions taken Friday, go back Saturday for extractions and partial plate.
6. You have to arrive early for plates, they can only take about 25-30, but not that many people go to these clinics for partials.

This sounds like an excellent idea for me. Not only will I get these extracted, I'll get a plate that cost me nothing and I can see how they feel, wear, etc. I can always trash it later and go back to someone locally for a better one - more permanent one.

The one in S.C. is at the Columbia State Fair and it will be crowded.

When I see the oral surgeon and the dentist, I will try not to offend them by suggesting that I might not be able to afford their services, and may try the M. of M. clinic.

[howard555]

How urgent is your dental needs? The North Carolina Mission of Mercy travels the state and provides free dental work. Extractions, cleanings, fillings, dental repairs and some partial work. They held the clinic in Charlotte last August. According to their schedule they plan a trip to South Carolina.

2012 N.C. Missions of Mercy Clinic Schedule Announced Jan. 9, 2012

On the schedule they will be in Charlotte and Gastonia ... but I don't know if being a resident of North Carolina is required. I don't do Facebook but it appears they have a Facebook account. Perhaps you can find out when they will be in South Carolina or ask about the need for residency in NC.

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I'm headed to Fayetteville next Thursday if anyone wants to go.
I'm eligible for their plates because they only do front teeth.
It should be an interesting 2 days as they expect to see 1000 people. Most go for fillings, etc.
They have lab and will accept 20-30 for partials. First come first serve.

My only question at this point, is why they do the impressions before the extractions.
I'll find out next Friday.
They take the impression Friday and you go back Saturday for the extractions and to be fitted with the partial. Since there is no cost, I'll at least be able to get these 5-7 teeth out of the way.
And have a temporary partial to test drive for a few weeks, before the oral surgeon takes a look in late July at my excessive lower tori.

[d4g4m]

Looks like I may be paying too much for a tooth repair.
I recently attempted to bite a small ice cube in half. Took the side of a tooth off.
Sexton Dental has 'build and post' $155, 'crown' $500. My dentist wants $250 and $900
I was advised to have a 'deep scale' at $250 per quad. Sexton is $125 Not only didn't I want to spend $1000 but it's a procedure I don't want to do.
btw- my insurance pays only $279 for a crown.
Learn from my experience. Don't bite on ice cubes.

[howard555]

Originally Posted by d4g4m

Looks like I may be paying too much for a tooth repair.
I recently attempted to bite a small ice cube in half. Took the side of a tooth off.
Sexton Dental has 'build and post' $155, 'crown' $500. My dentist wants $250 and $900
I was advised to have a 'deep scale' at $250 per quad. Sexton is $125 Not only didn't I want to spend $1000 but it's a procedure I don't want to do.
btw- my insurance pays only $279 for a crown.
Learn from my experience. Don't bite on ice cubes.

One of my teeth broke off at the gum, when I tried to peel a banana.
I have crunched ice with no tooth issues.

I've never been to Sexton. I think my Uncle has been there, or he heard about it.

I got 5 complex teeth pulled, and a upper partial from a periodonist for $0.00.

I went to one of the Missions of Mercy clinics.
I do not think they do crowns. If the tooth is out of site, maybe pull it?
You can check to see if they have a MOM program in Florida.

There are tricks to getting in the building and being seen.

If anyone is South Carolina or North Carolina is interested in getting fillings, extractions, or front teeth partials and you are low income, send me a direct message. I can fill you in on all the details.

It's unbelievable what they did in 20 hours and under one roof.
60 dentist and oral surgeons and 60 dental chairs.
Another 20 chairs for cleanings. Full mouth x-rays for all.
They saw 700 people on Friday and about 300 on Saturday.
74 got partial plates. The rest were cleanings, fillings, and extractions.
An 8 person lab that spent all 20 hours making the 74 partials.
Checkout and they gave me no cost pain medications and another drug for infections.
All persons who performed the dental services were volunteers from the dentist community.
All persons who gave you the paper work and told you where to go after each step, they were all volunteers at well.
I think the news story said the value of the dental work they did those 2 days, was close to $500,000.00.

[CarolinaWoman]

How is the partial working out? At least you got the teeth extracted for free and if the partial doesn't work out you can go to Sexton or Affordable and get a new one.

Last November when they had the clinic in Charlotte, Channel 36 had it on the news. People were lined up everywhere ... hundreds of people at the two day clinic.

With so many people out of work and lacking dental insurance that is a much needed service. I have paid out over $2000 this year in dental work and still have more to go.

My daughter was laid off from her job and needs her teeth cleaned. I need to tell her about this Missions of Mercy.

[howard555]

My bleeding lingered longer than the two hours the doctor said. I have not put the plate in yet. I'm doing that later today.
The doctor fitted the partial. He had to make adjustments to the acrylic with a grinder. He also took an "impression" of my bite, and did some drilling or filing on some of my left teeth. I have a long wisdom tooth that is too long and is damaging the lower tooth below it. With the partial in place my biting on that thing, showed premature contact areas. He adjusted things to reduce that. This wisdom tooth, which I think is too close to the tooth beside it, prevented the left side wire of the partial to work well around the anchor tooth. He cut the left wire off. I guess the suction between the plate my upper mouth, and the right side wire will hold it in place.
I decided to wait a couple days for my gums to heal and then try the plate and begin eating.
Corn on the cob here I come.
Most of the people were younger than I was. It was disturbing to see so many people missing front teeth. They only do front partials as one of the goals is to create a pleasant smile for people. Not side or rear partials.
They let you tell them all your problems and they decide the most serious ones. They do this so they can serve as many people as they can. One lady had 4 fillings needed, and they agreed to do two of them, maybe the most severe ones.
She had the option of standing in line Friday night and getting the other two on Saturday. One guy needed 4 teeth pulled. They agreed to all 4 of his. The director of the program is a dentist. He looked at everyone who wanted a plate. He was somewhat undecided on mine because he made sure your rear teeth were in good enough shape to be the anchor teeth.
He let me by, I'm guessing maybe I was a 60% yes, and 40% no, when he looked at my teeth. I'm glad he let me. I had stood in line outside for 8 hours and inside for 1 more. I have a dentist that has a sliding scale and I pay 20%. His complex extractions are $238 each. Since circumstances are going to force me to accept the advice of the periodonist that did my work at the MOM clinic, then I might be back to $238 for complex. I had 5 pulled and the cheapest partial at Affordable is around $484, so I saved maybe $484 + 5 x $238 - close to $1600.00.
But we all had to put up with all the inconveniences to get the services by standing in line.
The clinic is in Charlotte in Dec. but it might be very cold weather for standing in line. Not all the clinics have a lab so you have to check the schedule. The x-ray machines were set up in a large, new box truck. This whole event, they set it all up on Thursday and after 3pm Saturday they take it all back down and be ready to move it all to the new location a couple or 3-4 weeks later. I was very lucky to get my impressions taken and my partial fitted by the same doctor. He owns 11 dental location in that county. He spends all his time in one office and all he does in periodontal work. He has regular dentist and oral surgeons running the other 10 locations.
These dentist understand dental fear. They numbed my gum with something on a long q-tip. Then short burst with needles for each of the 5 teeth. I felt very little pain on the needles. The two needles in the upper mouth are very painful and they were for me too but not near as bad as they could have been because he had already partially numbed the area. I said "local doctors" don't do this, they go straight to one needle. He said "I've had the needles before so I know what they are like for people." My bi-cuspid that was broken off would not come out easily. He needed a drill to remove some bone. I got extremely, 100%, top of the line dental work.
I'm going to a future one to get my wisdom removed and to get 2-3 teeth repaired or restored.