Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
The only thing I didnt think about preparing for my retirement.... My Teeth!
Old 11-22-2011, 12:06 PM   #1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
The only thing I didnt think about preparing for my retirement.... My Teeth!

I retired about 18 months ago, and thought I had everything pretty organized and planned out. But I missed one thing, dental costs. I get the privelage of having a wisdom tooth pulled as it has a cavity in it and dentist said its not worth fixing especially since it is tight against another tooth. He doesnt pull teeth so I was referred on. It will cost close to $400! I wonder if I bring the pliers and the whiskey if I could get it under $200 After this is done, I will have spent about $750 this year on my teeth, which is almost as much as my yearly health insurance. Granted this is a rant and isnt going to break me financially in anyway, but it makes me ponder the future cost of dental costs. Always having my 2 yearly cleanings and paying no money for these, along with good teeth, I didnt put much thought into potential costs. But I started reading some various sites, and I am stunned at the potential problems and the costs you can have with dental expenses. Maybe I should plan a reserve budget for future dental expenses, above the amount I reserve for home maintenance expenses! Has anyone else been surprised with dental costs? It appears dental insurance isnt really worth it.
Mulligan is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 11-22-2011, 12:22 PM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Katsmeow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,307
Dental costs can be very expensive. The routine stuff -- cleaning and the occasional cavity -- is not that bad. Root canals and crowns are expensive. I've found that dental insurance (which we have) does help for those. Still dental insurance tends to have annual maximums that are not that high. I needed a lot of dental work late last year so I spaced it over two years. Of course, if you lose a tooth and need an implant to need dentures then the costs can be extremely high.

Some of it just depends on your teeth. DH has great teeth. He hardly ever goes to the dentist (I'm talking once every 10 years whether he needs it or not). So his dental costs are almost non-existent.

Me? I have a dental appointment this afternoon and dread it. My teeth build up plaque like crazy. I brush, I floss, I water-pik and my teeth always look to the dentist like I don't do any of that. I get cavities at the drop of a hat and have lots of crowns. I have the teeth you would expect someone to have like my husband -- someone who brushes and that's all. Yet, I spend way more time on my teeth than he does and it seems to be to no avail at times. Very annoying. I tend to exceed our dental coverage every year while he doesn't use it hardly at all. Sigh.
Katsmeow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 12:31 PM   #3
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Naples
Posts: 2,179
My Medicare Advantage plan covers regular cleanings and an annual Xray, I think it's called a bite wing. Basic stuff. Better than nothing but I miss not being covered like we were under employer health plan. There are a lot of plans out there on the internet and I get mailings all the time. I think that when something goes really wrong, I'll have them all pulled and get dentures. That isn't cheap either. Golf friend of mine had that done a few years ago, top notch job, $9K. I said to him, "man, I'm thinking more like three grand". He smiled really big so I could see and said "not for these babies". Maybe I'll pull a George Washington and start carving my own.
JOHNNIE36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 12:57 PM   #4
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
Kat and Johnnie, if I get any more positive replies like that, I will feel compelled to keep a toothbrush in my mouth all day long. I still will have 2 wisdom teeth left, so I consider myself plus 2 still. But the thought of getting any of the other ones pulled or root canaled is something I dont want to consider. Maybe Ive lived a sheltered life, but terms root canal, pulled tooth, implants, posts, bridges, dentures quit frankly scare the hell out me and my wallet, too.
Mulligan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 01:06 PM   #5
Administrator
Alan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: N. Yorkshire
Posts: 34,021
You may want to check your health insurance, it may cover items such as root canals and periodontal surgery - mine does. For years my company dental insurance cost me nothing but only covered most things 50%, so I knew the costs of crowns etc. Once ER'ed we chose not to have dental insurance for all the reasons mentioned in other threads. In the last few years before RE I pressed ahead and got crowns on those teeth that had many and/or deep fillings. It has now been over 2 years that I have needed any treatment, other than cleanings.
__________________
Retired in Jan, 2010 at 55, moved to England in May 2016
Enough private pension and SS income to cover all needs
Alan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 01:29 PM   #6
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 5,170
There is also a national dental insurance you can get, although I don't know of any at this point. When I was young and worked for a store with no health benefits, I bought one of these coverage which knocked off percentages of treatment fees. I now have a dentail insurance, but I still pay a lot out of pocket.
tmm99 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 02:54 PM   #7
Full time employment: Posting here.
tightasadrum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: athens
Posts: 802
I agree that dental costs are not something I ever factored into my retirement budget. I've been shocked at what it has cost me just in the last three years. If I could find the right dental insurance, I would buy it. So far, the ones I've looked at are not very impressive. Crowns around here run in excess of $1000 with no root canal. If root canal is required, add another $1500. After my DW's car accident, she discovered that two teeth had been damaged with the impact. One required removal and an implant/crown which is still in process. So far it has cost over $4000, and she hasn't even started the crown work yet! The second tooth took a crown. We're holding our breathe that that root doesn't fail also.

If anyone has insurance suggestions, I'm all ears. I'm on Medicare, but DW wife is seven years away from Medicare.
__________________
Can't you see yourself in the nursing home saying, " Darn! Wish I'd spent more time at the office instead of wasting time with family and friends."
tightasadrum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 03:03 PM   #8
Moderator Emeritus
W2R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,468
Because my teeth have always been bad, I consider crowns and root canals to be a big part of the "unexpected irregular expenses" part of my budget. They join the unexpected cratering of a big screen plasma TV, or of an expensive laptop computer, unexpected huge plumbing or roofing expenses, unusually large car repairs, and so on.

During the years before my retirement I figured out how much I spent on such things, on average. This sort of thing amounts to almost as much as my regular, expected expenses. But this is on average. Some years - - nothing, so I put that money aside. Other years are worse.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.

Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
W2R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 03:04 PM   #9
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 702
I had no problems with my teeth for 20+ years and see the dentist quarterly for a cleaning and checkup. The past 2 years there as been a root canal and crown, another crown. This year I had to have a first molar removed and had a dental implant done. The cost for just the one implant is in the 3-4k range. My dental insurance does not cover the implant but will cover the crown and the extraction. It also covered the root canals.

I don't have much of a choice as my wisdom teeth grew up under my second molars and they had to take all 8 teeth out when I was a teenager. I need every tooth that I have left.
FreeAtLast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 03:07 PM   #10
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
73ss454's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: LaLa Land
Posts: 4,693
In 2007, right after I retired DW and I moved to Fla and went for our dental checkups. 13K later we were done, I was pissed but what can you do.
__________________
Work is something you do to get enough $ so you don't have to....Me.
73ss454 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 03:08 PM   #11
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
youbet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 13,149
From time to time here on the Fire Forum, we discuss low ball retirement budgets. I'm always jaw-droppingly flabbergasted when folks suggest they could get by on less than $20k/yr (sometimes significantly less) for a lengthly retirement.

I've thought about the "gotcha's" that could put a low ball plan in jeopardy and unplanned dental expenses is on that list. There's a reason most posters here are always pointing to the generous "cushion" they've built in. And unexpected, expensive dental would sure be a good place to spend those "cushion" dollars.
__________________
"I wasn't born blue blood. I was born blue-collar." John Wort Hannam
youbet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 03:44 PM   #12
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,678
Our retiree medical insurance has an option for dental insurance. It's 16.98/mo for each of us. For me it's worked out to covering 2 cleanings and exams a year and x-rays once a year. Then I broke a molar (same week that the furnace died!) that had a large filling in it and I got a Cerac crown. The cost of the insurance is a little more than the cost of the cleanings and exams plus the x-rays. So having a claim (paid at only 25% after $50 deductible) means that this year it was worth it to have the insurance.

Last time I was at the dentist I asked about the cost of things if you don't have insurance. It's $91 for cleaning and exam with x-rays. So being insured means that I've prepaid for the periodic stuff and a little bit more for the "just in case" stuff. DH and are are both 56 and have had a tooth break or had to have a filling replaced. For now the insurance seems like a good idea.

We get the low option for dental, there is also a high option that costs $28.24/mo each that has better coverage for things beyond cleaning and exam and x-rays.
__________________
Married, both 69. DH retired June, 2010. I have a pleasant little part time job.
Sue J is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 04:28 PM   #13
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,746
We'll probably set aside a few hundred a year on top of the $300-400 or so that cleanings, xrays and exams will be. A few hundred should cover a couple fillings or part of a major procedure. We seem to have ample dental issues but they aren't crushingly expensive (a couple hundred here and there). DW used to have more expensive issues put intensive therapy seems to have solved those problems. Dental therapy for you jokers!

We'll FIRE with kids, and they will likely be on medicaid dental or whatever our state plan for moderate income folks is. Who knows, the national health plans may cover dental by the time we FIRE.
__________________
Retired in 2013 at age 33. Keeping busy reading, blogging, relaxing, gaming, and enjoying the outdoors with my wife and 3 kids (8, 13, and 15).
FUEGO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 04:47 PM   #14
Moderator Emeritus
W2R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 47,468
Quote:
Originally Posted by youbet View Post
From time to time here on the Fire Forum, we discuss low ball retirement budgets. I'm always jaw-droppingly flabbergasted when folks suggest they could get by on less than $20k/yr (sometimes significantly less) for a lengthly retirement.
Well, but look where you live. Cost of living is far less in most of the country AFAIK. Down here it really wouldn't be unreasonable at all to live on $20K/year, with a paid off home and with even maybe $6K/year for unexpected large expenses. Lots of people retire on just SS, and the average SS check is around $1000 - $1100 if my recollection is correct. That would be $12K-$13K/year.
__________________
Already we are boldly launched upon the deep; but soon we shall be lost in its unshored, harbourless immensities. - - H. Melville, 1851.

Happily retired since 2009, at age 61. Best years of my life by far!
W2R is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 05:16 PM   #15
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Katsmeow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,307
I just got back from the dentist. Now I have terrible teeth. It is just my genetics apparently.

Dental insurance is definitely worth it for us. Family dental is $39 a month. Each person gets $2000 annually in dental benefits.

Today was about $1200 for a cleaning, exam, xrays and a crown. Everything except the crown is made for 100% by insurance. Insurance pays 50% of the crown less $50 deductible. Next week I ago back for 7 (yes 7) fillings which will cost a total of about $1500, which the insurance will pay 80% of.

I still have 2 more crowns to do ($1050 each). I will do those after the first of the year so insurance will pay for half of the cost.

BTW, it isn't that I have years of dental work that I am catching up on. Last year I had 2 crowns and 2 fillings and used up about $1900 of my dental benefits. So we are definitely saving money through having the insurance.
Katsmeow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 05:20 PM   #16
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
pb4uski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,204
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mulligan View Post
.....After this is done, I will have spent about $750 this year on my teeth, which is almost as much as my yearly health insurance. .....
$750 a year for health insurance? Wow. If I could get health insurance for $750 a month I would be happy.
pb4uski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 07:11 PM   #17
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,806
Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski View Post
$750 a year for health insurance? Wow. If I could get health insurance for $750 a month I would be happy.
+1

My Health Insurance is significantly more than $750 per month. Kinda hard to work up any sympathy for a $400 dental bill!

-ERD50
ERD50 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 07:25 PM   #18
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 1,050
For basic cleaning and xray, I've noticed an increase of specials by local dentists via Groupon and Living Social. This weekend, I saw one for $59 for cleaning, xrays, and fluoride treatment.

For any major tratment, I would actually consider dental tourism in costa rica, philippines, or somewhere you might consider for a vacation. I had a cleaning in Manila for $10 last year. I would do more research for crowns, etc.

Google "dental tourism" and insert a foreign country see if there are any results. A crown in Manila was $200. We ran short on time, so we didn't do it. I asked since DW had 3 suggested for future consideration. In the US with insurance we are looking at $1500 out of pocket with 50% insurance.
Aiming_4_55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 07:32 PM   #19
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katsmeow
I just got back from the dentist. Now I have terrible teeth. It is just my genetics apparently.

Dental insurance is definitely worth it for us. Family dental is $39 a month. Each person gets $2000 annually in dental benefits.

Today was about $1200 for a cleaning, exam, xrays and a crown. Everything except the crown is made for 100% by insurance. Insurance pays 50% of the crown less $50 deductible. Next week I ago back for 7 (yes 7) fillings which will cost a total of about $1500, which the insurance will pay 80% of.

I still have 2 more crowns to do ($1050 each). I will do those after the first of the year so insurance will pay for half of the cost.

BTW, it isn't that I have years of dental work that I am catching up on. Last year I had 2 crowns and 2 fillings and used up about $1900 of my dental benefits. So we are definitely saving money through having the insurance.
Kat, my wallet would be beat up having to pay for that, but mentally I dont know if I could handle all those trips to the dental office. I still remember my first cavity in the 60's like it was yesterday, and its not a fond memory!
Mulligan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2011, 07:38 PM   #20
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Mulligan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 9,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by ERD50

+1

My Health Insurance is significantly more than $750 per month. Kinda hard to work up any sympathy for a $400 dental bill!

-ERD50
I have a 5k deductible and am still under 50. I could pay for the expense with my HSA, but I have this grand if maybe delusional idea of not spending a dime of it. Then when Im 65 I will have a war chest that will pay for my medicare tax free the rest of my life. Of course it looks like my organs will have to cooperate better than my wisdom teeth are for this plan to work.
Mulligan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
25% plan to delay retirement until 80 JustCurious Other topics 21 11-17-2011 05:44 PM
Middle-Income Boomers Expect Tough Retirement mickeyd FIRE and Money 27 07-27-2011 07:44 AM
GAO Report on Retirement Income Purron FIRE and Money 5 07-17-2011 02:27 PM
Mid 40's looking for soft retirement in 8yrs, 9 months and 23 days sspribyl Hi, I am... 0 07-17-2011 12:34 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:51 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.