W2R
Moderator Emeritus
Told the kids last year "I am now officially old" after my first root canal/crown last year.
I had my first root canal/crown at age 17.
Told the kids last year "I am now officially old" after my first root canal/crown last year.
DW and I are very lucky. I'm lucky that I have not had a cavity, or any thing besides cleanings since I was early teenager. (Knock on wood).
Never had a second opinion. I dont think decay has any symptoms others than visual. My last dentist and I had a 25 year history. As far as I was concerned she walked on water.I was just told that I need a crown (I have decay under the filling) plus some other cavities, abnormal amount for me.
Did any of you get a second opinion? I don’t have any symptoms and dentist wants to do this right away, so I’m not comfortable with diagnosis. Just wondering those who have needed expensive dental work knew they needed it.
I was like the little kid in a toothpaste commercial I once saw, wailing, "How can I have that many cavities- I don't have that many teeth!" My 4 siblings and I ate substantially the same diet, all had regular checkups, and only two went cavity-free for years. That ended for my brother when he started driving himself to and from football practice and would buy a bag of candy on the way home; my sister never had a filling till she got out of college. Some of it is genetics; some of it is preventable.
I had not gone to the dentist in two years, don't floss. Had x-rays and cleaning last week, no cavities, gums look good, no bone loss or problems.
$129
I dread the thought of dealing with all of this dental work in my late 80s.
and people with rotten teeth suffer other health problems too.Exactly! Like I told my dentist, my teeth are my number one priority right now.
I've had the same thought. Dental care in LTC facilities isn't always guaranteed and, to be fair, as some people lose their cognitive skills, they can't be bothered with scrupulous dental hygiene and may fight someone who's trying to clean their teeth.
I'm sorry - you'll need to find another thread... you're messing with the average $$ in this oneI had not gone to the dentist in two years, don't floss. Had x-rays and cleaning last week, no cavities, gums look good, no bone loss or problems.
$129
Is this result another benefit of living in the PNW?
Got my two implants this morning. Bill was a shade over $4600. That was after a 10% senior's discount (had to ask for it - I'm not shy).
I assume the crowns will be around $3K total in about 3 months from now.
This is a thread for posts from those of us with crummy teeth, to complain about the resulting high bills from dentists and/or oral surgeons.
Those without crummy teeth can just grin like Cheshire Cats as they read the thread, and self congratulate on your superb oral hygiene and obvious superiority in keeping up with your teeth.
Those who are not yet retired, may find this useful in trying to predict their retirement spending.
ANYWAY.... here's what I paid over the last 5 years, including payments to my dentist (for root canals, cavities, crowns, xrays, cleaning), to my oral surgeon (for five implants), and for drugs they prescribed:
2017: $8,135
2016: $6,050
2015: $2,362
2014: $220
2013: $3,221
That adds up to $19,988 (almost $20K! ) over just five years. Good thing I have some wiggle room for unexpected expenses in my spending allotment. And no, I don't want to travel even a mile farther for my dentistry, much less to some banana republic, just to save a buck - - I like my dentist.
How about you? Anybody spend a lot on dental work in the past five years? Misery loves company so that's why I'm asking.
Might be cheaper for some of you to go full dentures, if cost was primary concern?
Might be cheaper for some of you to go full dentures, if cost was primary concern?