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I need two crowns and my new dentist charges $1200 each. Does this seem reasonable for Charlotte based on your experience? Also, my dentist makes patients pay 100% up front at the time of service and then reimbursement comes directly to the patient from the insurance co. I've never had this type of arrangement with a dentist. Not sure I want to cough up $2400 for crowns and then wait for the 50% reimbursement. Ouch. Appreciate any advice.
$1200 seems slightly high, as my crown right at around $1000. Although, that was in St. Louis, and I don't know if you've got any special requirements for your crown.
The paying up front and having the insurance company reimburse you sounds a little hinky though.
I need two crowns and my new dentist charges $1200 each. Does this seem reasonable for Charlotte based on your experience? Also, my dentist makes patients pay 100% up front at the time of service and then reimbursement comes directly to the patient from the insurance co. I've never had this type of arrangement with a dentist. Not sure I want to cough up $2400 for crowns and then wait for the 50% reimbursement. Ouch. Appreciate any advice.
I am currently in need of one and very torn about whether I will actually get it. My doctor wants $1100. His office gets an estimate from insurance for you first on what they will pay toward it. I just found out mine will only pay about $400. If I went thru with it I would be expected to pay the remaining approximate $700. the day of the procedure.
I just keep thinking of all the people I could feed for $700 and I just can't see myself spending my money this way. I think I will have him pull the tooth instead. I know the dentist deserves to be fairly compensated and make a living, but GEEZ...this is just ridiculous.
I would check out care credit. The dentist office that work with them will often offer 12 - 18 months interest free financing to help spread out the payments.
I am in the KC area - so I don't know the crown price for the Charlotte area - but mine was a lot less - $800 per tooth - I am having a 3 tooth bridge - one tooth extracted - the other 2 shaved down to support it - a couple of other expenses related to it - total of about $2700. I was able to finance $2500 on my care credit card for 12 months.
If you really must have the crowns now - I'd look into local participating dentists and see if you can get one that has good recommendations from others and have it done there. I did have to pay 100% up front - even though I will not have all the work done until January 2009. I still a big chunk of change - but at least it's better then having to fork it all over now!
Nothing wrong with checking with other dentists, oral surgeons. I wish I would have - have had several issues already.
Hard to say if $1,200 is reasonable. Not all crowns are created equally. Permanent crowns can be made from all metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all resin, or all ceramic, each with their own cost factor.
From experience, I can attest that both KCMO and STL dentists typically charges less for a crown than dentists here. DH and I both have had crowns in all those locations . . . we could get a really nice crown in STL and KCMO for under $900 - from docs we really liked.
Here, I got quotes all over the map, but nothing less than $1100 and from one very well known doc (advertises a lot - cosmetic work) the cost would have been around $2300 a crown (for incisors - a bit less for molars).
I personally have asked for discounts. I also asked for volume discounts, LOL, when I had two and my hubby was having bridgework done. Don't hesitate to ask for a discount even tho most dentists are not likely to give them. I have a friend who is a dental hygienist and she says the mark up is unreal so I know they can do it - they just want to squeeze all the profit out of each procedure possible, I guess.
KSChick's suggestion is good, too. I have had dental work done this way - thru/ Care Credit. I also have put the charges on a credit card, then transferred them over to another card when I found one w/ 0% interest for 18 months and paid it off month by month.
I noticed some dentists near where I live - and it appears they are more "affordable." I had checked out their website and will use them in the future if I have more need for extensive work. They do use Care Credit, BTW.
Looks like they have several locations thru/t CLT - you may want to check them out.
Some dentists will give a discount for not putting the payment on a charge-card too.
True - and good suggestion. Also, I noticed your post re: types of crowns and just wanted to emphasize - that is sooooo true. Be sure to compare apples to apples!!!
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I had to have a crown last Spring...my CLT dentist charged me $1050 upfront. My insurance covered $500. Way too high of a price but what are ya gonna do? I wasnt about to loose a tooth because of $550.
Dental insurance sure seems to me to be a scam. Mine covers $1000 per year for everything....anything else is out of pocket. Two crowns in one year would really hurt my bank account!!
$1200 is what most dentists in the Fort Mill area charge. I know...I just paid in full for one since I already maxed out my insurance (and they know that). Otherwise, they have a schedule and they will charge you an estimate of your share. $1200 is about the cost of the prep (about $300) and $900 for the actual crown. Prep includes placement of core and post, or core and pontic and post. Root canals (which they would have to do before a crown if you don't have one yet) runs about $900 for a molar.
Loves...do NOT have the tooth extracted from trying to save it from a root canal. Unless you're planning to have bridge work done, that space will cause the other teeth to move and you'll lose them prematurely. Then we're taling $4500 implants to get them back!
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