Dentists...Or Beyond (Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Penobscot: insurance, school, price)

[Three Wolves In Snow]

Hi.

Just going to get right to it here:

I have no dental insurance. I have no medical insurance. I've plowed through my savings and have mere scatterings of coins left. I do have two jobs...but they are both part time and that means, no insurance.

I'm getting old. I'm not in my teens or 20s. Or ...ahem..more.

But, I DO have a wisdom tooth that has finally broken through and is pushing on my other teeth. My mouth is killing me. It hurts like you would not believe. I did go to the dentist in March, I think it was, when I had four jobs and a little extra and they wanted to schedule me with a specialist. I did get an exam and get a cavity done at the time and that was expensive!! (No insurance, then, either.)

Knowing that this will require more than just, "yank the wisdom tooth out" due to age and how the tooth is growing in, I know this is going to get costly. I also know, because I have TMD, they will require that I go on a week's worth of antibiotics and pain killers before I even think of sitting in their chair to begin the process. (We discussed this when I was there in March.)

This tooth has been coming in very slowly over the years but this time...it's here. The pain is not going away. It's affecting my life.

But I have no money to get this done.

I HATE!!!!!!! using something for poor people, even if I am, technically, poor, because I like to make it on my own...but this time...I have to swallow my pride and ask for help.

Where can I go that would be able to do this for me for low cost? Like a place that does this for poor people? Where do poor people go when they need dental help?

Anyone know?

Thanks.

[cebdark]

PCHC - Penobscot Community Health Care They also offer a sliding scale payment program.

Good luck. I can literally say that I'm MORE grateful to have access to dental insurance than I do to have medical insurance.

God knows I've used it 10 times more.

Another suggestion would be to call around and ask if there are any dentists willing to do a payment plan or cash discount.

[Three Wolves In Snow]

Thank you so much, reloop.

I'm also going to apply there...would love to have a full time job.

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by Three Wolves In Snow

Thank you so much, reloop.

I'm also going to apply there...would love to have a full time job.

I remember when they started with one paltry office and a relative handful of patients. Now they're all over the place and I've lost count of their patient load now.

Their growth has shown what a dearth of affordable healthcare in this area there really was. Some people are not particularly thrilled with the dental clinic, but given what's available in this area, it's a good thing they offer it. The alternative is an expensive dental block shot in an Emergency Room.

It's not really much of an alternative is it?

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by reloop

I remember when they started with one paltry office and a relative handful of patients. Now they're all over the place and I've lost count of their patient load now.

Their growth has shown what a dearth of affordable healthcare in this area there really was. Some people are not particularly thrilled with the dental clinic, but given what's available in this area, it's a good thing they offer it. The alternative is an expensive dental block shot in an Emergency Room.

It's not really much of an alternative is it?

I'm going to second the PCHC Dental Clinic. I go there, and I have insurance. I have been getting a lot of dental work done lately. I've been to some other dentists in the area but PCHC is where I prefer to go. I was a little hesitant, at first, because it is a 'teaching' facility (I had some very bad experiences at Tufts Dental School some years ago) but my fears have been allayed. I had a filling done last month, and I have to say it was the least unpleasant of such procedures that I have ever experienced...and by that I mean that it was virtually pain free. Xylocaine works much better on me than Novocaine, and even better than Lidocaine, but they used Pentocaine (sp?) and it's the best yet- acted quickly and lasted for the duration without repeated injections. In fact, this visit was so lacking in unpleasantness that I was able to free my mind to enjoy the fact that two attractive young ladies were fussing over me. (Does that make me a pig? Or a 'dirty old man'? Too bad.) They even used a good topical anesthetic first, so there was only the tiniest little 'pinch' when the needle went in.

Barring an oral surgeon that will knock me *completely* out, PCHC Dental is at the top of my list of places to go for dental work (and Aspen at the absolute bottom, I might send my worst enemies there, but not anyone I care about).

[221B]

Originally Posted by Zymer

I'm going to second the PCHC Dental Clinic. I go there, and I have insurance. I have been getting a lot of dental work done lately. I've been to some other dentists in the area but PCHC is where I prefer to go. I was a little hesitant, at first, because it is a 'teaching' facility (I had some very bad experiences at Tufts Dental School some years ago) but my fears have been allayed. I had a filling done last month, and I have to say it was the least unpleasant of such procedures that I have ever experienced...and by that I mean that it was virtually pain free. Xylocaine works much better on me than Novocaine, and even better than Lidocaine, but they used Pentocaine (sp?) and it's the best yet- acted quickly and lasted for the duration without repeated injections. In fact, this visit was so lacking in unpleasantness that I was able to free my mind to enjoy the fact that two attractive young ladies were fussing over me. (Does that make me a pig? Or a 'dirty old man'? Too bad.) They even used a good topical anesthetic first, so there was only the tiniest little 'pinch' when the needle went in.

Barring an oral surgeon that will knock me *completely* out, PCHC Dental is at the top of my list of places to go for dental work (and Aspen at the absolute bottom, I might send my worst enemies there, but not anyone I care about).

Great feedback. Do you mind if I ask the cost on the filling? Just to do some "comparison" shopping.

[birdinmigration]

I have no information for you, just want to send you a hug of sympathy. I hope it all works out for you.

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by Zymer

I'm going to second the PCHC Dental Clinic. I go there, and I have insurance. I have been getting a lot of dental work done lately. I've been to some other dentists in the area but PCHC is where I prefer to go. I was a little hesitant, at first, because it is a 'teaching' facility (I had some very bad experiences at Tufts Dental School some years ago) but my fears have been allayed. I had a filling done last month, and I have to say it was the least unpleasant of such procedures that I have ever experienced...and by that I mean that it was virtually pain free. Xylocaine works much better on me than Novocaine, and even better than Lidocaine, but they used Pentocaine (sp?) and it's the best yet- acted quickly and lasted for the duration without repeated injections. In fact, this visit was so lacking in unpleasantness that I was able to free my mind to enjoy the fact that two attractive young ladies were fussing over me. (Does that make me a pig? Or a 'dirty old man'? Too bad.) They even used a good topical anesthetic first, so there was only the tiniest little 'pinch' when the needle went in.

Barring an oral surgeon that will knock me *completely* out, PCHC Dental is at the top of my list of places to go for dental work (and Aspen at the absolute bottom, I might send my worst enemies there, but not anyone I care about).

Aspen Dental is for profit and from what I've heard, is the most ridiculously priced outfit around.
They quoted my brother almost $800 more for a particular procedure than a small dentist in Blue Hill or Ellsworth (I forget which).

[Three Wolves In Snow]

Originally Posted by Zymer

I'm going to second the PCHC Dental Clinic. I go there, and I have insurance. I have been getting a lot of dental work done lately. I've been to some other dentists in the area but PCHC is where I prefer to go. I was a little hesitant, at first, because it is a 'teaching' facility (I had some very bad experiences at Tufts Dental School some years ago) but my fears have been allayed. I had a filling done last month, and I have to say it was the least unpleasant of such procedures that I have ever experienced...and by that I mean that it was virtually pain free. Xylocaine works much better on me than Novocaine, and even better than Lidocaine, but they used Pentocaine (sp?) and it's the best yet- acted quickly and lasted for the duration without repeated injections. In fact, this visit was so lacking in unpleasantness that I was able to free my mind to enjoy the fact that two attractive young ladies were fussing over me. (Does that make me a pig? Or a 'dirty old man'? Too bad.) They even used a good topical anesthetic first, so there was only the tiniest little 'pinch' when the needle went in.

Barring an oral surgeon that will knock me *completely* out, PCHC Dental is at the top of my list of places to go for dental work (and Aspen at the absolute bottom, I might send my worst enemies there, but not anyone I care about).

I will say that Twin City Dental, which is where I went in March, also was the first time EVER I had a virtually pain free experience. I'm a big wuss when it comes to needles and I was shaking in the chair, waiting for the torture. They wanted to know if I wanted some pill...one of those pills that make you "relax" and reduce your anxiety but I do NOT do pills. No thankyew!

However, I got all worked up for nothing because they, too, did that whole topical anesthetic on me. I thought for sure there was no way that was going to work because I am very sensitive to needles but lo and behold, I didn't feel the shot go in at all. I was shocked! I did feel a teensy bit of discomfort, (and I don't mean 'discomfort' in the way a doctor says it where 'discomfort' means they peel you off of the ceiling), during the cavity work but I was really pleasantly surprised. I hugged the dentist when it was over.

To know that this place does that too, well, that just makes me feel a whole lot better.

birdinmigration: If that was for me, I really appreciate that. Thanks!

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by 221B

Great feedback. Do you mind if I ask the cost on the filling? Just to do some "comparison" shopping.

I have no idea, I haven't seen the statement yet...I'll try to get a look at it if I see it, but the Mrs. usually handles those and it could get disappeared into whatever drawer, box or crevice that sort of thing goes into before I even know it arrived.