Hubs Needs Two Teeth Extracted
@BelleStarr (61463)
United States
June 24, 2017 7:37am CST
A couple days ago, hubs asked me to look in his mouth, he thought he had burned the roof of his mouth. A quick look showed that he had an abscess. We called our dentist and he got in that afternoon. She lanced the abscess and told him the two teeth involved can not be saved. The cost for that visit and the extractions $991.00.
We have only basic dental insurance for cleaning with our United Healthcare Advantage Plan. I called them the next day and asked bout the dental rider. It will cost us $33 a month each and go into effect on July 1. Since that is a Saturday, hubs can't get into the dentist until July 5.
I am a little concerned about the infection spreading with that much time passing. I think we will call his regular doctor on Monday and see if we can get in to see her. I think he needs to take an antibiotic right now to make sure the infection doesn't spread. The dentist gave us a prescription for Penicillin for after the extraction.
The insurance should pay 50% of the cost of the extractions after a $100 copay. The $200 for the first visit will not be covered. The insurance should pay over $300 I decided that since some of my fillings are getting old and will require replacement, I should get the insurance for myself as well. It is amazing how expensive dental care is.
25 people like this
27 responses
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
That is what I fear so we will try to get into the doctor's office Monday morning.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502194)
• Italy
24 Jun 17
@BelleStarr It's better to check and to check also the terms of the insurance you want to subscribe. I know that here they would not cover something that has started before you were insured.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
@LadyDuck Thank you, that is not a problem, it will cover the work we need done at 50%.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
Yes it is, but the cost of living in Connecticut os high overall.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
24 Jun 17
I went for a root canal on Thursday, Iz, it was no fun. And yes, dental care is insanely expensive and our medical aid only gives us a certain amount for it. Definitely get the insurance for both you and your husband and I hope the antibiotics will help @BelleStarr .
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
When I had a crown last year without a root canal it was $1300. Our dental care is very high here
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
@bluesa Yes well that is the cost here in Connecticut and we don't live in the more expensive part of the state near New York City.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
24 Jun 17
@BelleStarr $1300 is R16900 so that is scary expensive. My root canal cost about R1500 which I think is just nearly over $100 .
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
24 Jun 17
Its very exspensive. Sorry hes in pain. Hope tbe 5th comes fast
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
Me too, I am very concerned at this point.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
@Courtlynn Thanks Courtney, you are a doll!!
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
24 Jun 17
@BelleStarr as you should. Will keep you in my thoughts
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
24 Jun 17
OMG! That is outrageous! I am like you, get the insurance since its time to get repairs. I would go to the doc too and see what they say, He needs meds now to get rid of the infection, when the teeth are pulled the poison will just spread all over his body.
Take the penicillin now and tell the dentist you misunderstood.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
I did think of that but he needs them for 7 days after so I will just bite the bullet and get him into the doctor's office tomorrow morning.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
Yes, it is but it is consistent with the prices that we pay here for dental care.
1 person likes this
@vsai2008 (11794)
• India
24 Jun 17
@BelleStarr I still cant understand why is that so much..i know i am babbling..the procedure doesnt even lasts long..just for removing the tooth..its too much
what about placement of teeth then?
1 person likes this
@vsai2008 (11794)
• India
24 Jun 17
@BelleStarr If these are the costs..then I hope the non-native people (so many friends of mine are in US studying) and those who cannot afford treatments, never get sick in America..My goodness...
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
24 Jun 17
yes and i don't know why it should not be counted as health care. its all the body. makes no sense to me
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
Well I know but then vision isn't really considered as part of our healthcare either. My glasses cost me $800 last year.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
26 Jun 17
Ouch in more ways than one! 
Some of us that have not been blessed with good teeth have suffered so much and again in more ways than one.
Some of us that have not been blessed with good teeth have suffered so much and again in more ways than one. 1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45111)
• Canada
26 Jun 17
@BelleStarr I'm close to 68 and so I am not far behind. I have spent a lot of money on my teeth but slowly they are needing to be pulled. They have caused me so much pain in spite of going regularly to the dentist.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
26 Jun 17
Yes, my husband is almost 70 so all in all his teeth have held out pretty well. But yes ouch to the money and the pain.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
25 Jun 17
We have United but it doesn't include dental - we have separate dental plans thru Farm Bureau. My husband's one extraction cost us $10 and a $25 copay but they pay lousy when I have my deep gum cleanings. I would also check with regular doc about that - he should be on anti-b's now I would think.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
25 Jun 17
We bought the dental rider from United, it is $33 a month and covers up to $1000 a year, not much but better than nothing for sure. I am going to go to the minute clinic at CVS this morning to get him an antibiotic.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
25 Jun 17
Yes, dental can get pretty pricey.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
25 Jun 17
If you are rich or poor you are covered but in between, it is a very different story unless you have insurance from an employer.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
26 Jun 17
@BelleStarr we are blessed to have it through my husband's job.
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jun 17
So, since there is an infection in his mouth, would that be considered medical instead of dental, and therefore covered under medical insurance?
I had some problems with my eyes a few years back, and at the time I did not have any vision insurance. They determined that the issues were medical-related, and so my medical insurance picked up the cost of treating my eyes. Thank goodness, because otherwise I wouldn't have been able to afford it.
And speaking of how expensive dental insurance is, my son will need to get braces this year, and they are incredibly expensive even after including the costs picked up by my dental insurance.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
26 Jun 17
I don't think so since the teeth are the cause of the infection. I am sure the dentist who we have had for many years would know how this works. Very few things in the mouth come under medical insurance in my experience.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128824)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 17
@BelleStarr Yeah, that makes sense. Just thought it would be worth a try to see if there was a way to get medical insurance to cover it.
@DianneN (254949)
• United States
26 Jun 17
I agree that the infection should be seen to before the procedure. We both have dental insurance, and it is still expensive. However, our dentist is a friend and neighbor and we never get billed, even when I check at the desk. I just had a tooth bonded after a cleaning, and skipped out the door.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
26 Jun 17
lol Our good friend is an optometrist so any quick fixes are handled much the same way,
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
He has had gum issues for a few years and we knew eventually these teeth would have to come out. Just didn't expect it to cost quite so much
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
@just4him It's true and while we had good insurance it didn't affect us much but now yikes.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 Jun 17
@BelleStarr Dental costs have skyrocketed.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
25 Jun 17
OThat isn't bad really, our $66 will only cover a total of $2000 dental between the two of us.
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
25 Jun 17
@BelleStarr It seems like a good plan. Actually we might have an annual cap on it. If we were reaching that, then we would have to consider spacing some things out if possible.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
25 Jun 17
There is no provision for dental care, vision care or hearing that is well covered. You can go broke. Hubby can also swish with salt water and/or peroxide 1:1 in water until he gets the work done and that will help.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
24 Jun 17
Good that you will have some insurance. I guess today is free dental at Aspen Dental for vets.
My daughter is so lucky. She has Medicaid and has gotten all her teeth extracted and then is getting fitted for dentures. I went to see how much it would cost me to get me some dentures and it would cost $9000! Even on a sliding scale it will be too much for me so I get to set back and watch as my teeth fall out of my head.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
25 Jun 17
@BelleStarr .....It was that price because the upper plate has to be done specially since the top of my mouth won't hold dentures in.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
I have to say that 9,000 sounds like a very high price for dentures. I know that implants are sky high about $5000 each but dentures I thought were more like $3000. Maybe check around.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91013)
• United States
25 Jun 17
I'm really surprised the dentist didn't prescribe an antibiotic with that abscess. I don't have any dental coverage so I know how expensive it can be.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
25 Jun 17
She prescribed it for after the extraction but now there could be a 10-day delay. I am going to call in the morning and forget the insurance and see if they can do it tomorrow. If not I will call our GP.
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
26 Jun 17
It works if you have a lot of dental work. Looking at what the insurance pays if he has no more dental work for a year then you would have saved $60 if you paid the whole bill without the insurance. But it is always good to have that added insurance just in case you need it and it is not always that easy to pay that much money upfront. It is indeed expensive.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
26 Jun 17
Yes it is a terrible situation and we can not really come out the winners.
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
25 Jun 17
oh, if converted to our monetary unit, that $300 is costly. has your husband done with his teeth extraction?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
25 Jun 17
It will be done on July 5th we have to wait until after the insurance kicks in.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Jun 17
No we checked on this before we bought the insurance with dental there is no preexisting since well how can you tell when a cavity started.
1 person likes this
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
25 Jun 17
@BelleStarr That's good. Dental care is so expensive. We don't have the insurance but we may need to get some. Hubby is having some problems.
