Do you have dental insurance?

[gristy]

I have some - it maxes out at $1500 per year. My dentist wants to replace all my amalgam with ceramic (one tooth broke a few months ago - he said it was because of the amalgam filling). Total will be $4500! My exclamation to the lady who was going over the cost with me was "how can the average american afford dental care in this country!?" Her reply was that oral health/disease was one of the bigger health problems throughout the world, meaning that many people can't afford it.

[uppityperson]

1. I just went to Canada to get a root canal done, 2/3 cost of USA

emergency root canal also. No insurance.

[texanwitch]

2. I had a lot of dental work done, it is expensive.

I didn't have dental insurance but dental discount card, save 50 per cent on my crowns and root canal.

You might do better using a dental discount card then insurance.

I had to have 6 crowns, my old filling went bad.

[Omphaloskepsis]

3. I don't have it...

I just dropped 1500$ a few months ago for dental work... Nothing serious, just cavities and a cleaning.

[Dave Reynolds]

4. Yep.

Through work, not too expensive. Pays 80% on root canals and crowns, 100% on cleanings.

[Sgent]

5. Most dental insurance isn't like medical insurance

Even better policies (like yours w/1500 max/yr) tend to not cover much if you really need it. They tend to cover regular maintanence and a few fillings or a root canal /yr, but not extensive rework. One nice thing is that if you are going to a PPO / DMO (in network) dentist, you should get the benefit of any discounts even on items which are beyond the dollar caps of your policy.

Note -- even if you had really good dental insurance, it likely wouldn't cover the work your referring to (replacing almagam with ceramic) as it would be considered expirimental.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. I have an insurance policy quite like gristy's and it does cover the

amalgram replacement. My dentist said it was because the ceramic tends to last longer and is a better bargain for insurance co.'s that cover filling replacement.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Yes. Same coverage as you. I had a root canal (first part) done in

February. My dentist was trying to baby it along until our benefits refreshed. The back part of my tooth broke off this weekend, which means it will be twice as expensive to cap because they will have to build it back up. :(

[flamingyouth]

8. No, and it really sucks.

I just had to have a root canal and a bunch of other work, plus I still need another crown. Total will be about $5000 when it's all said and done. :(

[LaraMN]

9. Nope.

It cost us almost a thousand dollars out-of-pocket, when my husband needed a root canal. I take my kids to the free clinic day they have at some of the local offices once a year, so that I only have to pay for one cleaning a year for each of them. We've been lucky so far that they haven't had any cavities. I need a wisdom tooth pulled (it has a hole in it) but it doesn't hurt much yet, so I'm dragging my feet, not wanting to have to scrape up the money to have it done. It sucks. I can't imagine not having health insurance, though.

[Jim__]

10. Yes - maxes out at $2,000/year.

Have to go see my periodontist next Monday to get hsi "treatment plan." I don't expect to do most of the work he recommends - it will cost way too much.

[xmas74]

11. Mine kicks in July 1.

It will be the first time in five years that I've gone to a dentist.

It's pretty sad that I'm excited over having a dental appointment!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

12. My mom's a dental hygientist

So she just cleans my teeth for free. :-)

[Lady Effingbroke]

13. No insurance of any kind, including dental.

I'm just damn lucky I have good teeth - I'm 36, and I have never had a cavity.

I haven't been to a dentist since I was 18.

I brush and floss twice daily, however!

[lizziegrace]

14. Same here

and I have a daughter in college who also has no insurance of any kind. It's hell living on the edge like this.