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My problem is finding a DENTIST! When I first moved to this area, I went to Dr. W. Hubby went to Dr. D. When I moved in with him, he convince me to go to Dr. D. However, at the time, Dr. D. had just retired and Dr. H. took over his practice. Hubby & I both didn't like Dr. D. so back to Dr. W. we both went. Well, Dr. W. decided to retire and Dr. B. took over the practice. I couldn't remember when my appointment was so I called the office and got a message saying that the office was CLOSED! Yup, she just fired everyone and packed up and left town. (Hubby got a bill from her about 2 years after she left town.)
So, we found Dr. M. We both really like Dr. M. But then, (you guessed it) Dr. M. retired and Dr. V. took over. Dr. V. has closed the office we go to since covid. Not sure if she is going to reopen it or if we want to travel several miles to see her or find another dentist close by.
FWIW, I opted out of my work-provided dental insurance (I still had to pay a rather high monthly premium for it and didn't use it at all for several years) for one of those much cheaper discount programs; specifically, 1Dental as recommended during the Dave Ramsey radio show. Turns out it paid nearly 50% of my molar extraction, comparable to what my more expensive insurance would have covered, but 0% of a subsequent filling replacement on another adjacent tooth.
Why, I have no idea!
According to the receptionist, "Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't."
Turns out it paid nearly 50% of my molar extraction, comparable to what my more expensive insurance would have covered, but 0% of a subsequent filling replacement on another adjacent tooth.
Why, I have no idea!
According to the receptionist, "Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't."
???
Insurance companies base their rates and coverage on actuarial analyses and shoot for a profit margin that balances their operating costs and the rates the market will bear. Average profit margin was around 6.3% a year ago.
Basically, it's a gamble on their part; in your case they're setting rates based on the percent of their customers who need molar extractions and filling replacements, the cost of those procedures to the insurance company, their overhead costs, etc. My guess is that a higher percentage of insured need filling replacements so they'd lose money by covering them at the rates you're paying. If you wanted filling replacements covered, you'd have to pay a higher premium.
Oh what I'd give to have osteoPENIA Sounds like you're doing great not to have crossed over to the dark side of osteoPOROSIS. I live in SW Florida and I see women older than me biking, playing paddleball, running and I wish so badly I could too but the risk of a fall stops me. I do look pretty good so that's a plus
I'm sorry you have to go through that. Just curious, do you take medication for the osteoporesis?
I know how bad it can be, my mother had osteoporesis, though she refused to take medication for it- can't say I blame her, but she said she had severe side effects that were worse than the osteoporesis.
I recall she had back pains and x-rays showed some hairline fractures ( something like that) around some of the vertebrae, she took pain relievers ( mostly OTC) for that.
I guess I am lucky in that at least so far ( I'm 73) I've managed to avoid full fledged osteoporesis. I was in my 50's when my first bone density scan showed some osteopenia. The doc suggested I start exercising, including some weight bearing exercises, take calcium and vitamin D3, and try for a diet high in these minerals. I've done that since then, and I don't think the osteopenia has progressed much beyond what it showed on the first bone density.
I've had some other things sort of fall apart, though, so I guess we can't escape the ravages of old age altogether, can we?
My Medicare ordered a bone density assessment as preventative care when I signed up with my new provider at age 65. (It was all fine). I don't know if all Medicare expects this but it's a real good idea.
I was just reading about bone density recommendations for people over 65, and see that Medicare will pay for a baseline bone density for a 65 yr old, and every two years after that. They say they will pay for it more often if there is a health reason to do so.
You might not need a bone density test every two years, so if your results are normal, your doctor may well not order the test every two years.
yes - I did some dumb things last year and fell about 3 times.
Once carrying something through a crowded garage - stepped on something and bam. Had bruises on my left side.
Then I stepped on a wee-wee pad. Those things have slick backs - hit my head on the door frame - but managed not to hit the floor.
I try to be aware of where i'm walking now.
It's easy to do, I understand how it can happen all too well. Sometimes it's just that those unexpected things get in our way and we trip over them ( I knew of someone who stepped back with a load of laundry, tripped over her dog who had followed her into the room), or we slide on something slippery and fall, get distracted and trip over a step or curb. Or perhaps have a dizzy moment and lose our balance and down we go.
We're lucky enough, hopefully, not to get seriously hurt when we do that! Unfortunately, sometimes we are.
It's easy to do, I understand how it can happen all too well. Sometimes it's just that those unexpected things get in our way and we trip over them ( I knew of someone who stepped back with a load of laundry, tripped over her dog who had followed her into the room), or we slide on something slippery and fall, get distracted and trip over a step or curb. Or perhaps have a dizzy moment and lose our balance and down we go.
We're lucky enough, hopefully, not to get seriously hurt when we do that! Unfortunately, sometimes we are.
I am lucky to have been a klutz all my life. I fall every second or third week but I still bounce. Worst that happens is a bruise or a scrape. The only bad thing is I do not always know that I am bleeding until a puddle forms on a nearby surface or my body.
My 80 year old younger brother is almost the opposite. He has a brain growth that has totally crippled him and he has lost all bladder control. His kids believe he will not make it to his next birthday. I would like to go see him but his kids do not believe he is cogent enough to know what is happening. So a visit could break the regular pattern and upset him...
Being old is pretty awful. I think some of us give up because the alternative is better than heading through.
I'm sorry you have to go through that. Just curious, do you take medication for the osteoporesis?
I know how bad it can be, my mother had osteoporesis, though she refused to take medication for it- can't say I blame her, but she said she had severe side effects that were worse than the osteoporesis.
I recall she had back pains and x-rays showed some hairline fractures ( something like that) around some of the vertebrae, she took pain relievers ( mostly OTC) for that.
I guess I am lucky in that at least so far ( I'm 73) I've managed to avoid full fledged osteoporesis. I was in my 50's when my first bone density scan showed some osteopenia. The doc suggested I start exercising, including some weight bearing exercises, take calcium and vitamin D3, and try for a diet high in these minerals. I've done that since then, and I don't think the osteopenia has progressed much beyond what it showed on the first bone density.
I've had some other things sort of fall apart, though, so I guess we can't escape the ravages of old age altogether, can we?
Thanks so much Travelassie. It sounds like you're in a good place with the "penia" version ; ) and I think both of us are happy to be here even with the aches and pains. Sure beats the alternative.
I took Actonel tablets for years but it didn't seem to do much. Maybe it slowed things down somewhat but as it got worse my rheumatologist prescribed Prolia injections. They are very expensive but they're given just twice per year.
I'm very health conscious and I do just as you do. Lots of Calcium rich foods (I love milk so that's no chore), D3, Vit K. Before my broken wrist I was going to physical therapy twice per week and doing strengthening exercises so this conversation is reminding me that I should start that back up again. Thanks!
I've read that pregnancies drain some of the calcium from a mother's system. I'm not sure if that's true or not but I had two kids so maybe I can give them some grief over this They were worth it though.
During the pandemic, I had a crown come off, a root canal evaluation, 2 teeth cracked and pulled. I have had to go to the dentist 6 times already (including 2 specialists) in the last 8 months. I haven't had to go 6 times in the last 3 years. I have another appointment scheduled in 2 weeks to start the process of replacing the teeth pulled. I guess I am falling apart.
It's not that hard to avoid osteoporosis. Just manage to be 100 lbs overweight nearly your entire adult life. You'll be doing "weight-bearing exercise" constantly. I'm 67 and my recent DEXA scan was normal.
I also had significantly more muscle when I was that size.
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Sounds like you're doing great not to have crossed over to the dark side of osteoPOROSIS. I live in SW Florida and I see women older than me biking, playing paddleball, running and I wish so badly I could too but the risk of a fall stops me. I do look pretty good so that's a plus 
