Since Medicare does not include any dental services

[MineralMan]

coverage, I spent about 15 minutes today worrying a bone fragment out of my gum from an extraction I had a month ago. I could have had a root canal and crown, but I don't have the $2000 that would have cost. The extraction was just $150. It's not that big a deal, really, but those 15 minutes made me think about it again. At least I had the $150. Many people don't, and suffer from an aching tooth until the nerve dies from the infection, if the infection doesn't kill them first. We need complete single-payer health care.

[PCIntern]

1. Sorry...

even I think that price of endodontics is a bit much, particularly for the anterior teeth (incisors and canines). they're easy easy easy for these specialists to do. Did I say they were easy?

Of course, they'd argue...

[MineralMan]

3. Well, it's expensive to run a dental practice.

I agree that the costs are to high for such services, but they're what produce the profits. Extractions help pay the overhead. I understand why the charges are what they are, and don't really care about a premolar. I can still chew my gruel just fine. Those pesky bone fragments are a PITA though. :rofl:

[newblewtoo]

6. Sounds like you

Could use these guys DIY Dentures:


http://www.diy-dentures.com/index.html



Unbelievable the amount of things you can find that are now DIY. Dentistry? What's next, DIY Open Heart Surgery?

Shows just how bad things are getting. I really did just google DIY dentures on a whim. :rofl: But the more I think about it, how tough can it be to take a friggin impression?

[MineralMan]

8. Nah. I don't need dentures. It's just a premolar.

I'm missing a couple of others, too, all molars. If I needed dentures, I'd take a trip to Mexico, have a nice holiday, and get my dentures.

Most of the rest of my teeth will probably be still in my head when I get cremated.

[NV Whino]

2. My dentist tried to talk me into a $3000 bridge

because a tooth had to be extracted because the %#@@%! (former) dentist didn't listen to me when I had a problem. This dentist finally came down to $2000 and a 2-tooth bridge. Still ain't gonna happen. By the time all the dire things occur that she is predicting, I'll be long dead.

And dental insurance (as is) is a joke.

[truedelphi]

4. Yep, dental insurance that you pay for is seemingly cheap,

But usually will only cover half the cost of these expensive procedures.

So many people are subsidizing the Ultra Rich and their ability to pay.

While other people, who make enough and have the kind of vacation that is needed, head to Mexico for dental care, where everything is about one third of what you would pay here.

[MineralMan]

5. Dental health is a tough thing. Very costly and

insurance doesn't help much, as you say. And yet, it's amazing how much effect tooth problems cause in people's lives. An aching tooth is a serious thing in anyone's life. It pretty much wipes out a person's ability to concentrate or to enjoy much of anything. At some point, it becomes imperative to stop that pain. Yet, many people cannot even get a tooth extracted to get rid of the pain. I had a neighbor who had an abscess in his jaw for months because he couldn't afford to see the dentist. Finally, he sold some stuff so he could get it fixed. He was miserable for that entire time. I'd have paid for it, but I was in a bad spot then, myself.

Personally, I think ER services should include things like tooth extractions. They don't, though. They'll give you a prescription for a painkiller, but that's about it. ERs should have a qualified dentist on the staff.

[tblue37]

12. I once read an article in which an Army guy talked about

how much dental work had to be done on young conscripts and enlistees when they joined up just to make them fit for service. He said, "I never realzied until then how much of a luxury dental care is in this country."

[slipslidingaway]

7. knr ...

but no discussion allowed of SP, even when the Dems are in control of Congress and WH.

:(

[MineralMan]

9. Not at all. We can discuss it anytime we please.

It wasn't happening at that time. It's not going to be easily attained nor quickly attained. Anyone who thinks it is is not thinking clearly.

I doubt it will exit in my lifetime. That will not stop me from advocating for it. Shit takes time to happen. It always does.

[slipslidingaway]

10. Sure people can discuss it, but those who hold power need to allow ...

discussion when they have national televised meetings on the subject, otherwise it will surely never happen. Same thing happened in the 90's when Clinton asked Conyers to back off the subject of SP, Dems need to stop blocking a real discussion of national HC.

This was the perfect time for Dems to make a move, if they really wanted it to happen.

[tblue37]

13. It will exist in Vermont, and with some luck, single-payer health care

will spread to one state after another, just as gay marriage and medical marijuana have. Though they haven't been accepted everywhere yet, at least we have a start--and maybe within your lifetime all of those things will be accepted everywhere in this country at last.

[morningglory]

11. I live in the South, home of tooth abcesses and limps.

There is always a dentist within 50 miles who pulls teeth for old people and makes painfully ill-fitting dentures. The most recent one I knew about was an alcoholic, and fixed teeth for the rural poor. He got so many DUIs that he gave up his practice. I have always had good dental insurance at work, but going on Medicare this month and am going to have to look for that dentist somewhere around here.

[Scuba]

14. Just over the border in sunny Mexico, 1st class dentistry awaits for 1/5 the cost in the States. n/t

[golfguru]

15. If you can avoid being gun downed by drug smugglers

and criminal gangs. Robbery, kidnapping are at all time
high in Mexico. I have visited Mexico half a dozen times
but only on cruises. Cruise passengers are usually well
protected since they bring in good business to local merchants.