I need dental insurance...

[babylonsister]

I recently went for a teeth cleaning after 1-1/2 years (covid helped not at all) and was hit with a $10K estimate for what it will cost me to get all the dental work done. I need my teeth scaled again as I do have periodontal disease and lapsed with the cleaning. I also lost a crown; doc thinks tooth is too degraded to try to rebuild so suggest a permanent bridge for that tooth. And finally, I have 3 other cracked crowns that will need attention eventually.
Does anyone recommend any kind of dental insurance to be used with this dentist? I signed up for Medicare Advantage but did not do anything about insuring my mouth, damn the bad luck.
And after getting the diagnosis above, can I still get and use an insurance? My first visit to get this started is next week.
This will be done incrementally but it sure threw me for a loop. Any and all comments or recommendations appreciated!

[CurtEastPoint]

1. If you live near a School of Dentistry, or can get to one easily enough check that out.

[Auggie]

2. Can't help with insurance...

but dental experts always tell me to get a second or third opinion. Also, if you’re in a metro area or high income zip code, look into dental practices that are in the suburbs or cater to blue collar clientele. Not all practices are alike. It’s a pain in the butt to do so, but it really can pay to shop around.

GOOD LUCK

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Good advice, Auggie

[Auggie]

10. Thanks, but I'm just passing it forward ...

actual advice comes from a practice management consultant with 40 years in the dental business.

[lapfog_1]

4. When I was out of work and had no insurance

before Obama care... I would take a trip to Mexico and get the work done for a fraction of what US based dentists would charge. Go to a border town (Nogalas or similar) and the dentists and their staff work in clean modern offices and are fluent in English and well trained.

[captain queeg]

5. I have heard that myself. Might be worth a trip.

There are probably web sites where you could get some advice about providers. I looked under medical tourism years ago, there are probably sites that focus on dentistry. I’ve read a lot of people go to Costa Rica for dental work too, probably more expensive trip but you could have a vacation as well.

[appalachiablue]

6. About 4-5 years ago I got a policy with

Delta Dental. I found a practitioner who accepted the insurance, did an assessment and took off a fair amount in discounts. But unfortunately I couldn't follow through due to a relative who became ill and needed help.

*First look into Delta Dental's reviews online, and what states they cover. I never found out more than the initial start up, but notice they're still listed.

~ Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Delta Dental
https://www.deltadental.com/

[gab13by13]

7. I hear you,

I spent about 11,000.00 dollars out of pocket over 5 years. A root canal costs $1,100.00, a permanent 4 tooth bridge cost $4,5000. I also go to a periodontist for cleaning, he cuts me a break 80 dollars a pop.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. Dental insurance is essentially non-existent.

You've had some good advice for alternatives.

I sympathize, because I'm facing major dental work myself. I have always been bad about going to dentists, starting with an experience with a dentist who thought it was okay to do a root canal without anesthesia when I was 12 years old. Now I'm faced with my remaining teeth being extracted by an oral surgeon, and dentures. It's hideously expensive, but I'm fortunate in that I can cover the cost. I have no idea what I'd be doing otherwise. Putting it on the credit card and hoping I could eventually pay it off, I suppose.

In my next life I will request perfect teeth.

[3Hotdogs]

12. The early root canals were done without anesthesia.

That seemed to be the standard.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

13. My experience was in 1960.

And people wonder why some of us avoid dentists as if they were zombies or worse.

Because of that early experience, I long thought of myself as someone with a very low pain threshold. Actually, other than my teeth, I have a very high pain threshold, (I'll spare you the examples) but I don't think that way.

I am not really looking forward to the dental surgery and dentures, even though I know it's necessary. It helps me a little that my mother had very bad teeth, and had all of them extracted by about 1955. I have early memories of going with her to the dentist when I was very young.

She was toothless for at least two years, until they could afford to buy dentures. I do recall that she spent a lot of time and effort making sure they fit right. That set of dentures lasted the rest of her life, at least 35 years. If Mom could do it, so can I.

Back to root canals. That is not remotely a pain-free procedure. I wonder what on earth dentists would have been thinking.

In my case, the dentist seemed to get tired of my obvious expressions of pain and finally did some sort of anesthesia.

Fortunately, the oral surgeon I'll be seeing later on this month seems to be a strong proponent of adequate pain relief.

[3Hotdogs]

14. Mine was '61. Root canals were new. He explained he needed to know the level of pain so that

he would know when he reached the nerve and the nerve was removed.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. At what point did he get tired of listening to you scream

and finally administer novocaine?

That explanation strikes me as utter bullshit. Surely the nerve itself would be recognizable.

[3Hotdogs]

18. Thing is, the guy was an extraordinarily good dentist.

Later R.C.'s were done with 'cane.


Went to him for 35 or so, years. After he died, I went to a dentist in a neighboring town. New guy looks into my mouth, pokes around and says, whoever worked on your teeth, did an excellent job. Earliest crowns are still functioning after 58 years.

He was the guy who designed and patented the reclining, couch-like dental chairs with the one arm that slides up to allow you to enter.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

19. I'm glad he was such a good dentist.

I'm not sure if I'd have sensitive teeth anyway, even without that horrific experience as a child. I tend to think of myself as someone with a very low pain threshold because they hurt if someone just looks at them wrong. Other parts of my body I don't feel nearly as much.

[Ferrets are Cool]

9. My BCBS with full dental coverage is

$32 a month. I don't know if that helps at all, but it's all I have.

It pays 50% on major medical dental. Saved me about $6000 last few years.

[sinkingfeeling]

11. I have a Metlife Dental plan for seniors that runs me

around $48 a month.

It's called retirement dental benefits from Metlife.

[stillspkg]

16. This may help

Hi,
I'm relatively new to DU-a recently retired Ordained clergy/ mainline Protestant. I am facing the same dental situation. While I do have a Medicare Advantage plan, most insurance caps not only a total amount for the year, which is ridiculously low, it also does so per procedure. No dental insurance alone comes close to the coverage needs for the damage periodontal disease causes.

I waited until I had my second COVID-19 vaccine. I don't know if it's possible to sign up for Dental Insurance outside of the enrollment period, but that doesn't mean z I'm not going to try.

The resource that I know will be helpful is one I am also going sign up for: a Dental Savings Plan. If I can figure out how to attach a screen shot of the article. It is at Size Orman's website. Her experience with Dental Savings Plans, including her advice are compelling enough for me. Good luck!

[Mime]

20. Algodones, Mexico

Last edited Fri Jun 4, 2021, 06:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Look into Algodones ( near Yuma, Az), also known as Molar City!
The town consists mostly of dental clinics, there are recent posts about going there for dental work during Covid on the web.
it's pretty safe to travel there too. not sure how good the quality of the work is, but lots of retirees go there.