Why is it so hard to find a dentist?

@beckyomg1 (6756)
United States
December 12, 2006 12:23pm CST
My son has a bad tooth infection, and i have insurance for him but i spent all day yesterday trying to find a dentist that would take our insurance and could not find one, i even went to the website to see who was on the list, and everyone that i called did not take our insurance and told me i dont know why we are still on thier list. i had to take im to the er clinic becuase he was in so much pain. they did give him anitbotics and a pain killer but now i still have to find a dentist, and if i have to pay out of pocket then it is like over 200 dollars just to set up as a new patient. and right now i dont have that. what is person to do?
1 person likes this
45 responses
@nooreldin (471)
• Kuwait
13 Dec 06
! - dentist
I'm so sorry for your son's suffering! the tooth pain is awful!! but in my country the government supplies this kind of treatment specially the emergencies for free, or for very little fee..anywayz, hope you find a good dentist:)
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
15 Dec 06
thanks for the response.
• India
13 Dec 06
This person should go to the best clinical Lab so that he could have safe operation.There are many clinics around the countery or world that can insurance for his desire.but he could not get the services of many insurance companies.he will go to the normal clinic to his disease.
1 person likes this
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
15 Dec 06
thanks for the response.
@sbeauty (5865)
• United States
13 Dec 06
We carried dental insurance a little while when we lived down south, and we gave it up for the very reason you're citing. To many dentists don't want to bother with filing insurance claims, so they refuse to take people with insurance. There was only one dentist in our area that would take our insurance (Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee), and he was booked so far in advance that you couldn't get into him for months. Eventually even he quit taking it, so we got rid of the insurance. Dentists want to make everything they can make without doing any more than they have to. It creates a real problem for the public.
1 person likes this
• India
13 Dec 06
well there r many dentist in india
1 person likes this
@LoganzMom (618)
• United States
14 Dec 06
i dont know...its a shame. they all are so busy and they charge so much for simple procedures. it sucks...
1 person likes this
@sj_chaudhry (1537)
• Canada
13 Dec 06
yeah i also heared that dentist had charged so much... thats why i neevr been to dentist... hehehe i know it sounds weired but i am waiting for a time when i'll visit my native country....there we have our family dentist. i cant imagine to go to dentist here.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Dec 06
You should look into the DentaMax program. It is really cheap for a year. It is not insurance but a discount plan (also covers prescription, chiropractor, and eye doctor). Almost all dentists take it and you can see the list of dentists online who accept it and it is updated. Instead of paying $200 for the visit you would only pay like $75 (or less). They saved me about $1500 on my braces because my dental insurance didn't cover adult braces.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
i willhave to look into that. thanks.
@Tazzlady (174)
• United States
13 Dec 06
In my city we have a service that will help you find a denist and also take your insurance. I found it in the yellow pages. If not call your human resouce dept at work. they are suppost to help you with things like this. They also need to now if the insurance is not doing their job and their web site is not up to date. If all this failes call the insurance company if they do not want to help. It always help to ask for their name then ask to speak to a supervisor. That always works.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
the sad thing it is thru the state, not a work, so we all know how helpful the state is. thanks.
@Island_Geko (3759)
• Canada
13 Dec 06
this is why I love living in Canada, but we have our problems aswell all the doctors are leaving to the States for more money...I know that insurance companies suck and they treat people like animals and it is like I keep saying they are trying to weed out the sick and weak to stengthen the population. Problem is the population is getting weaker and sicker and the isuarance companies are getting greedier and stricter.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
thanks so much for the response, it is strange how one place it is alright and another it is not, why cant the usa do the same?
• United States
13 Dec 06
And this brings to light a discussion from class today how the American Health System is sooo wonderful. yet, it's not as good as the rest of the world, who uses their taxes to pay for it. we came up with one conclusion. Since the USA is a capitalist society, the capitalists must be in denial that the way the rest of the world runs their health care is worse than the way we run ours, yet the costs in other countries is a fraction we pay in the US. thus, we came up with the conclusion that since Capitalists rule the USA, and they do not want to make less money, we are stuck with the current health system we have. I'm serious, ask a Canadian person whose health care system is better, the USA's or Canada's.... so far i am yet to meet a Canadian who didn't favor Canada's system over the USA's. ^thus, you have the answer as to why its a pain to find a dentist.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
thanks, and yes why is it a pain to find a dentist when you are in pain. thanks
@rosey2006 (945)
• United States
13 Dec 06
You might try finding a dentist that can take payments. You may also try getting public assistance for your son. One other thing you may try is contacting your local public assistance office for a list of dentists that take payments. Good luck to you in your search for a dentist.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
that kinda is the problem, the insurance i do have is thru the state, and those are the dentist that dont take it. so that is why it is so hard.
@mbs730 (2147)
• Canada
13 Dec 06
It is hard finding a good dentist. I had that trouble years ago, and ended up winding back to the dentist I wanted to leave! Just because I couldn't find another one.. doctors are the same! It's hard to find a GOOD dr around!
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
its true, why is it so hard these days. i think because they know that we need them.
@krankies (811)
• United States
13 Dec 06
Did you try callimg your insurance company. If you are paying a monthly permium for the service thet should be able to direct you to an office that will except this insurance.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
i went to their list online, and of course when you call those that are there they are not particapting anymore or do not take new patients.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
13 Dec 06
I know in my home town it is hard to find one who takes medicaid. Medicare i am not sure about. I wish I could find a decent one I need to get some partcial dentures
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
i know why is it so hard.thanks
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
13 Dec 06
Dentist - A picture of a dentist at work.
If you lived here where I live, I know a couple of good dentists that would help you and your son. Two of my friends that I grew up with when I was younger both are dentists and take pretty much all insurances. They are very good at their profession as well. I hope that you are able to find a dentist that can take care of your sons infection and take your insurance. Is it a well known insurance company?
• India
13 Dec 06
in india there are dentist every where
@mirage108 (3402)
• United States
13 Dec 06
I know what you mean. I am getting ready to move and was lookng for a family pratice PCP primary care physician. and the closest one to where I am moving is over 50 miles away. but that is with TRicare which is what the govenment offers retire's at a very resonable cost. Insurance sucks and you have to use their dr's As I saw mentioned call the insurance provider and let them know what is going on
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
yeah i think that i will be on the phone all day tommorrow trying to find someone. cuz he is still in alot of pain. and i really need to find someone.
@venkatcse (234)
• India
13 Dec 06
The world is changing day by day and everyday. Not only dentist but other people who are needed in emergency are reduced
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
that is so true, it is just so unfair that this has to happen.
• United States
13 Dec 06
I don't have insurance at the moment. I'm going to be pay a little over $100 to join a dental discount plan with Blue Cross and Blue shield... I need a root canal and four wisdom teeth pulled...and thankfully this plan accepts preexisting conditions. The only bad thing is I have to pick a new dentist becuase mine doesn't take it... It's a scary thought since I'm so afraid of dentists anyway.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
i actually have blue cross blue shield but it is child health plus, so there are very few that take that, i live in the country and i really cant afford to drive hours to find someone that acutally takes it. because even though they are on the list i call and they say they dont take it and dont know why they have not taking them off.
• United States
13 Dec 06
I don't know if they have 1-800-DENTIST where you live but that's what I used years ago during an emergency. They set me up with a dentist who allowed flexible payments. He's fantastic & I've stuck w/ him ever since.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
thanks for the suggestion, i may have to call them.
@jenniem (89)
• United States
13 Dec 06
Oh, if you only lived in the Fairfax, VA area. I know a great dentist. I have the same problem finding physicans. They are plenty that take my insurance but I don't feel like I would feel comfortable seeing any of them.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
13 Dec 06
i know there are ones out there that are butchers, and you should feel comfortable going and not be afraid to go.