Is it cheaper to get your teeth removed at a student hospital? (pain, molars)

[matrixgangsta1993]

Two of my wisdom teeth are growing in and they look like they won't have problems however the 4 molars second from the back on the mandible and maxillary which I've had since childhood have always been sensitive. Two dentists have told me that it must have been a calcium deficiency as a kid that caused naturally weak and thus yellow enamel.

Whenever I eat sugar/carb meal and take a nap in the afternoon, it's only those 4 teeth (two at the top and two at bottom) which feel extremely sensitive. Not the pain of a cavity but I feel as if they're sore and actually cause the surrounding two teeth on both sides soreness at the very tip. This doesn't happen when I go to sleep at night.

A dentist told me since I was also seeking braces that it would be best to remove 4 teeth in total, two at top and two at bottom excluding my wisdom teeth. I have a feeling that he thinks its suitable to remove my wisdom teeth which would be stronger than the longer but sore and sensitive molars I currently have.

Could I ask the dentist to remove those teeth? Would my insurance pay?

[Rabrrita]

Our dental college will not perform wisdom tooth extractions because it requires a maxillofacial surgeon, not available at the dental college. When my wisdom tooth was extracted, it was paid through my health insurance not dental.

[jaminhealth]

Best to contact the dental schools and find out. I know people in my area who go to UCLA dental school for dental work. One woman who is financially comfortable even goes there.

You are aware of the foods that give you problems, REDUCE them. Sugars/carbs are doing us in.

[toofache32]

Originally Posted by fatallyflaccid

Could I ask the dentist to remove those teeth? Would my insurance pay?

This is the summary of your post after removing the extraneous info. It sounds like the plan is to remove a premolar from each quadrant? This is called "Four on the Floor" and can be done by any dentist who is comfortable doing this procedure based on the expected difficulty and medical comorbidities. Your health insurance might reimburse you for your payment to the dentist. Most of the time when patients ask this question, they don't realize this is the patient's fight to get reimbursed. If you're asking will a dentist do this on contingency (for free) hoping your medical insurance will pay....good luck with that. Most will require payment up front and it's your job to get reimbursed by the insurance company.