Dentist $$$$

[ex-khobar Andy]

Am I being ripped off?

I have a bad tooth: a crown, fitted maybe 20 years ago, has come off. I go to the dentist next door. “The tooth is bad: it needs to come out and then we’ll put in an implant.” Well OK then.

“We don’t extractions - you’ll have to go to my buddy a couple of miles away.”

Not sure why they don’t do extractions: seems to me that’s what most dentists do but OK.

I finally get through to his buddy’s office.

We settle on Thursday for the appointment. But that’s not for an extraction, it’s for the consultation. My dentist has sent x-rays and has diagnosed the need for the tooth to come out. I well understand that it may cost more or less depending on what they find, but they want $179 for the consultation and then of course $200 to $300 for the extraction.

WTF?

[BoSoxGal]

Tooth Extractions
“Non-surgical” extractions and “surgical” extractions are needed when a tooth can’t be repaired. Treatment costs depend on the visit’s length and difficulty. In general, both non-surgical and surgical extractions need anesthesia. Average tooth removals cost:

$75 to $300 for non-surgical, gum-erupted tooth extraction.
$150 to $650 for a surgical extraction utilizing anesthesia.
$185 to $600 for soft-tissue and complicated surgical extractions.
$75 to $200 for wisdom tooth extraction.
Impacted teeth can also boost costs up to $600, depending upon the tooth’s location.

https://memberbenefits.com/dental-costs ... insurance/

The consultation fee is nasty, considering you’re being referred after assessment by a colleague with imaging already completed. It couldn’t hurt to look elsewhere for comparison pricing.

[Long Run]

Relatively minor compared to the cost of an implant. If you have dental insurance, some are now covering implants up to the meager allowance.

If I were in your place, I wouldn't mind a second opinion on whether they can save the tooth and avoid an implant.

Also, for things like a dentist, it makes sense to get recommendations from friends. I have friends, though, that regularly change dentists as their employment and plan changes. So rely more on a friend who enthusiastically likes their dentist.

[RayThom]

I feel your neighbor/dentist knows of your financial status. He's giving you the "deluxe" rate.

I'd ask around for a good recommendation/referral in order to compare prices. I'm thinking an implant will set you back $3K, regardless.

Bottom line: I think you're being over-serviced.

[dales]

Ill jerk the dammed thing out for $20.

So there!

[Joe Guy]

I would want a good explanation for why the crown can't be replaced. Implants seem to be pushed quite a bit nowadays. I don't think they're necessarily a bad thing but they're probably a more profitable procedure. If I didn't have confidence in the dentist and/or if he has a large suspicious looking plant in his office, I'd go elsewhere.

[Guinevere]

Most dentists specialize, and “regular” dentists don’t do most extractions - especially if they require any kind if surgical extraction and anesthesia.

As for the costs, they look pretty average to me. Just wait until they quote you the implant.

Also, why not a root canal to save the original tooth, plus a new crown. Also not cheap but typically has some coverage under most dental insurance. You might want to see a periodontist and get another opinion.

[Sue U]

XKA: If you don't have separate dental insurance, the oral surgery involved in your tooth extraction may be covered under your regular health plan. Check with the doc and/or your insurer, as coverage varies by plan and type of provider.

[rubato]

If I trusted the dentists involved I would pay it without a second thought. Looks cheap to me. A crooked car mechanic would nick you for 3x as much w/o blushing. Dentistry is a tough profession, you have to be exceptionally good at running a business and be good at dentistry. Not an easy job. Dentists have to be talented, they used to have a practical test to get into dental school where you had to sculpt little blocks of material into a prescribed shape as a test of manual dexterity.
…
I LOVE my dentist. She took over the practice of a beloved local dentist who we had seen for >15 years. Really a gem. But she is something else. She was a fully qualified dentist in Romania and then came here and got a PhD in dentistry in the US and loves her profession. She gets excited about doing something well and having one of her assistants to do something well. Fun.

yrs,
rubato

[TPFKA@W]

Go to Mexico for your dental work. I was admiring a patient's teeth. Brilliantly white they were all implants. Got the whole set for $2k. He was living as an expat in Mexico when he had the work done. He said it was all state of the art in the office he went to for his work. I am considering it, even with the flight and the stay there I would be many many thousands ahead.

[liberty]

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=co ... &FORM=VIRE

[RayThom]

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=co ... &FORM=VIRE

I am always in awe with the manufacturing BEFORE the creation of the final product. Imagine the R&D required to do all of these tasks.

Obviously this is the reason why many products seem to be so expensive.