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.
I haven't had any serious dental work done for good 10 years and I'm having a sticker shock today , so I decided to poll the audience about the going rates.
I was quoted about $1,100 out of pocket for a root canal provided my insurance covers 80%! Apparently the prices come in some tiers depending on the tooth - I'm talking about a molar. IMHO this is simply insane to say the least! So what do people without insurance pay - $5,500?!
Is this what dentists charge these days or have I hit a particularly crazy place?
You probably misunderstood. $1100 is within range of the going rate. Even the best endodontists charge no more than $1800. You might want to call and get clarification from the office.
I don't know about a root canal but my dentist said I had to get my tooth pulled because the cavity was growing from the inside and there's no way to save the tooth. It's going to cost around $5000 for the surgery, grafting, implant and tooth. One friggin' tooth!! I still haven't done it yet but apparently cavities can cause deadly infections (according to CD posters) and I'm a little freaked out but I don't have the money to do it.
You probably misunderstood. $1100 is within range of the going rate. Even the best endodontists charge no more than $1800. You might want to call and get clarification from the office.
Well, I did ask for the out-of-pocket cost and specified my insurance covers 80%. They also had experience with Delta. It's not an unknown insurance, at least around here.
Had it been the whole charge, I would've been a happy camper. There's no way for this to be the case... I had a root canal done about 10 years ago and it cost about $400 (again, with insurance), so I can't imagine it being cheaper now.
I don't know about a root canal but my dentist said I had to get my tooth pulled because the cavity was growing from the inside and there's no way to save the tooth. It's going to cost around $5000 for the surgery, grafting, implant and tooth. One friggin' tooth!! I still haven't done it yet but apparently cavities can cause deadly infections (according to CD posters) and I'm a little freaked out but I don't have the money to do it.
Is that the out-of-pocket cost or you don't have insurance?!
Sierra, that was total cost ... my current dental sucks but we are getting a "better" one for 2009 (another issue with the whole charitable contributions thing on my post you responded to!)
Basically, with my plan, I get a discounted rate of about $3,5000. Still an arm and a leg of you ask me. At least if I have heart problems from this infection (a possible outcome), I'll have to pay less in medical expenes! (I know, bad train of thought there)
Well, I did ask for the out-of-pocket cost and specified my insurance covers 80%. They also had experience with Delta. It's not an unknown insurance, at least around here.
Had it been the whole charge, I would've been a happy camper. There's no way for this to be the case... I had a root canal done about 10 years ago and it cost about $400 (again, with insurance), so I can't imagine it being cheaper now.
With dental insurance, the waters get a bit muddied, but there's just no way the TOTAL cost is $5500. If the insurance info you're giving me is correct, then you should be paying $220 out of pocket, with the insurance picking up $880, for a total of $1100.
My advice would be to clarify with the dental office. We could speculate as much as we want, but it won't get you much closer to the truth. Another way you can get a clearer, though not guaranteed, picture is to ask the office to submit a pre-authorization form. The insurance will send back a form that outlines the approved cost and your co-pay. It takes about 1 month though, and the endodontist's office probably will not be happy to do it.
BTW, Delta Dental has tens of millions of subscribers. It's known just about everywhere.
Sierra, that was total cost ... my current dental sucks but we are getting a "better" one for 2009 (another issue with the whole charitable contributions thing on my post you responded to!)
Basically, with my plan, I get a discounted rate of about $3,5000. Still an arm and a leg of you ask me. At least if I have heart problems from this infection (a possible outcome), I'll have to pay less in medical expenes! (I know, bad train of thought there)
I forgot to mention this in the other post. You were not given the option to extract and leave the space empty. A question that no one asked was whether you have a tooth on top that opposes it. If the answer is no, then your best option is to extract the tooth and leave the space as is. If you do have an opposing tooth, you should only be worried about the upper tooth drifting downward. Another alternative is to get a removable partial denture. The acceptance rate on that is about 1% so it's not offered very often.
If you don't have the money for implants at this point, you should extract the tooth rather than wait for symptoms to develop. The most common sequelae of leaving the tooth in place is pain and/or abscess formation. It's pretty rare for teeth to cause brain or heart problems. Teeth do not necessarily drift (move), but they commonly do if nothing contacts them. A tooth drifting down will create gum problems for that tooth, as well as change the bite. Bad, but not as bad as a toothache.
A question that no one asked was whether you have a tooth on top that opposes it.
This has been mentioned to me before and yes there is an opposing tooth "issue".
Quote:
Another alternative is to get a removable partial denture.
I just turned 30 so the idea telling anyone I have a "denture" on is a very self-esteem blowing concept to me! heehee
Quote:
If you don't have the money for implants at this point, you should extract the tooth rather than wait for symptoms to develop.
If you know the answer to this, how long can I wait after I extract the tooth before the root starts "dying" and an implant would be more expensive because of grafting, or an implant may not even be possible?
Quote:
abscess formation.
what's that mean? i've heard it get thrown around but I have no idea what it means!
Speaking of bites, if I have an overbite, how do I even out the top and bottom? braces? any other suggestions?
Location: Prescott Valley,az summer/east valley Az winter
2,060 posts, read 4,153,376 times
Reputation: 8190
Quote:
Originally Posted by sierraAZ
I haven't had any serious dental work done for good 10 years and I'm having a sticker shock today , so I decided to poll the audience about the going rates.
I was quoted about $1,100 out of pocket for a root canal provided my insurance covers 80%! Apparently the prices come in some tiers depending on the tooth - I'm talking about a molar. IMHO this is simply insane to say the least! So what do people without insurance pay - $5,500?!
Is this what dentists charge these days or have I hit a particularly crazy place?
my outa pocket for root canal today with 60% insurance coverage was $218! Ya might go to Mexico to get it done~ much cheaper
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.
, so I decided to poll the audience about the going rates.
Apparently the prices come in some tiers depending on the tooth - I'm talking about a molar. IMHO this is simply insane to say the least!
