Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
But you are 80 years old so if you lose a tooth unexpectedly it's not a problem like it would be for me working/speaking/training in front of clients all day long.
No one is going to lose a tooth visible to clients unexpectedly except by accident/injury. Molars are the ones that can sneak up on you and I've lost 5 of them over the years....as an end result of having most of the tooth drilled away (with no anesthetic) when I was a kid 60 years ago. In hindsight, I don't believe for a moment that all that work was necessary or done for my benefit as much as for the dentist'$.
Nobody would ever know those molars are gone unless I told them/ showed them.
No one is going to lose a tooth visible to clients unexpectedly except by accident/injury. Molars are the ones that can sneak up on you and I've lost 5 of them over the years....as an end result of having most of the tooth drilled away (with no anesthetic) when I was a kid 60 years ago. In hindsight, I don't believe for a moment that all that work was necessary or done for my benefit as much as for the dentist'$.
Nobody would ever know those molars are gone unless I told them/ showed them.
I have a friend who lost her front tooth top tooth due to resorption in her late 20s. It happens. She has an implant now.
Regular dentist did exrays when it was determined I need a root canal. Fair enough.
Then we agreed after six months to get that tooth pulled. This time I'm sent to a specialist. He wants a pan exray . A whopping 240$. Then he says..best we pull the other tooth beside it.
My regular dentist then took it as an opportunity to do a bridge ...and take another exray! I said ok to the bridge . But he can get the exrays from his specialist buddy.
Regular dentist did exrays when it was determined I need a root canal. Fair enough.
Then we agreed after six months to get that tooth pulled. This time I'm sent to a specialist. He wants a pan exray . A whopping 240$. Then he says..best we pull the other tooth beside it.
My regular dentist then took it as an opportunity to do a bridge ...and take another exray! I said ok to the bridge . But he can get the exrays from his specialist buddy.
Spending 400$ for a 6$ image.
If you have dental insurance kicking in a portion for work, the dentist has to send them an X-ray as proof of 1- need 2- completed work.
X-ray not exray.
When you go for your physical does your doctor want an x-ray of your whole body every two years regardless of whether you have problems or not? Often they can treat you without ANY x-rays by examining you, asking you questions.
X-rays are not harmless. To subject your patient, who has a healthy mouth, to x-rays without reason, and refuse to treat them if they don't comply is exploitative.
Not everyone has dental insurance. Medicare does not cover dental care.
Sure you can choose to be a pawn or choose be an intelligent consumer.
Have never had Dental insurance and have always found dentists to be the most reasonably priced and willing g to work with me than other health professions. My yearly exam with xrays was $150, I don’t think that’s bad at all. Teeth and gums can change significantly in a year, rather they catch stuff before it’s a several thousand dollar root canal. You are free to say you only want them every two years.
The majority of people probably don’t have dental insurance, and historically dental insurance has barely covered care costs, so dentists are used to people who have to pay out of pocket and at least mine keeps prices reasonable. My current dentist and others are now offering yearly plans. She charges $199. Year which includes 2 exams including xrays and two cleanings. I think that is more than reasonable.
At least with dentists they will tell you upfront what the costs will be. While medical offices and hospitals leave me with surprise bills all the time. Just recently I had to get a breast ultrasound and second mammogram. They charged me $354 upfront saying it’s cause I didn’t meet my deductible. I paid it, got the tests done, then two weeks later I get another bill from them for $157. They said they forgot to charge me something or other, I’m still not clear but have no choice but to pay it because they’re the only Radiology facility my insurance covers. That has never happened to me with a dentist.
If you have dental insurance kicking in a portion for work, the dentist has to send them an X-ray as proof of 1- need 2- completed work.
X-ray not exray.
Thank you! My phone thanks you too as the spellchecker is getting a good talking to.
No insurance. All cash. Thanks for explaining the process.
When I am asked any problems and I say nope, everything is fine because everything IS fine why is he checking for cavities?
You can’t feel or see cavities until they are far gone and causing pain. I haven’t been able to tell I had most of the cavities I’ve had. Because they catch them early via exam and x-rays. It’s like going to a doctor for a physical, would you expect him to skip the exam and declare you healthy based on you simply saying you feel fine? Medical professionals proclaim you fine or not fine based on a combination of your self report and their skilled exam.
There are things aside from cavities they are looking for in an exam too, oral cancer and gum health probably the most important of the two, plus also they look for areas the enamel is being worn thin, or teeth which are grinding down more in certain areas. Every dentist I go to tells me I grind my teeth when I sleep to the point I’m flattening my teeth down, basically filing them with my teeth. Then they offer a fix for whatever they see, you are free to decline if you wish. I declined the nightime mouth guard because it’s expensive and I doubt I could tolerate it.
Last edited by ocnjgirl; 05-12-2019 at 09:59 PM..
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
