Dentist....How much will it cost?
By daycarepal
@daycarepal (1998)
United States
May 2, 2007 6:06pm CST
My husband is going to the dentist on Friday to get a tooth pulled. He's got a bad tooth in the back of his mouth that is chipped away on one side and the nerve is exposed. Ouch!! We called the dentist on Tuesday morning and they can't take care of it till Friday. We could go in sooner if we want to go in as an emergency case and pay an additional $100.
Does anyone have an idea of how much it costs to get a bad tooth pulled? I want to be prepared when we get there. The dentist office said they couldn't quote a price over the phone cause the dentist needs to see the tooth and see what all is involved. They wouldn't even give us a ball park figure. We have no dental insurance at all. Have you ever had a bad tooth pulled, if so, how much did it end up costing?
3 people like this
6 responses
@Lauraleigh99 (4718)
• United States
3 May 07
As long as the nerve isn't damaged it will be cheaper. I just got a tooth pulled last year and it costed $150 and I don;t have insurance either. But 2 years back I needed a root canal and that costed me over $1500 and that sucked! But my nerve was damaged badly.
@daycarepal (1998)
• United States
3 May 07
I don't know if the nerve is damaged or not. He doesn't want a root canal cause it costs alot more and since it's a tooth in the back of the mouth, no one will notice it missing if he gets it pulled instead of a root canal.
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
11 May 07
a tooth in the back, while not being aesthetically a problem if it is pulled - it is an important tooth. you figure 90% of your chewing and pressure is on those back molars. Also, if it is a lower tooth being extracted the upper tooth may start descending as it has nothing pressing against it...vice verse if it is an upper being distracted. to further the troubles, if you do not get a cap or bridge or some sort of space maintainer the other teeth may shift out of place trying to fill the hole.
@sadgirl_1958 (1088)
• United States
11 May 07
It really does depend on what else you need done. Dental work is very expensive. Personally, I would inquire with other dentists in the future - I don't think it is unreasonable to have an idea how much it will cost - best and worst case scenario.
@daycarepal (1998)
• United States
11 May 07
Well it ended up that he will need a root canal. For now, the dentist put a filling in the tooth so the root is not exposed anymore. It cost us $163.00 plus $40 in prescriptions. My husband said it feels 99% better.
They gave us an estimate for the root canal, posts, and cap. Total will be $2,200!! So that is something we are putting on hold for right now.
@Michele21 (3093)
• United States
3 May 07
Oh my I feel for you!! I just went to the dentist a few weeks ago and was shocked at what our portion was, we have dental insurance. I had a crown(way horrible), two cavities and then I had to have a root canal because my nerves were so exposed, and total it was over $1100!! With insurance!! I wanted to die!!! I am not sure what you can expect to pay though, hopefully they have payment plans if it is too expensive =) My root canal was $646 without insurance and it sounds like your husband will need one...I am so sorry!! And I hope things are cheaper for you!!
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11177)
• United States
11 May 07
I would guess around $80.00, of course that depends on where you live. Also, if the tooth is infected and has an abscess it may cost you antibiotics before they will extract it. you do not want to mess around with a tooth infection too long as the roots go so very close to the sinus and the sinus is so very close to the brain. people die from tooth infections for the very reason that the infection has traveled to the brain. scary.
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
3 May 07
I currently have dental insurance, but as much as I've been to the dentist and everything I have had done, I now owe the detist my son's first born child. LOL They should have quoted a ball park figure over the phone, there is no reason not to. My dentist is awesome and has a payment plan, so that may be an option. The only way it should be more is if they have to surgically remove it due to deterioration. But normally they can give just about anything a good yank and it's out. I had a tooth that was barely there, I mean just like root tips, and they got it out no problems. I would be wary of the dentist that won't give you at least some ball park estimate. I have had the office staff give me guestimates before, as they are unsure what my insurance will cover, but just so I have some idea. I'd call them back and ask for their best guestimate if I were you.
1 person likes this
